WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR DEC 22 - 28 (WEEK 52 OF 2013)

Sun 29 Dec

Possible Blue Fleabane, clearly seen Bearded Tits and maybe a Marsh Harrier. Sunshine and a light wind this morning suggested a cycle ride to have a second look at the plant which I discovered last Friday and thought might be Blue Fleabane (though it looked quite different to the plants that can be seen beside the cycleway between Broadmarsh and Farlington Marshes). After riding through the A27 underpass I continued until I was near the barrier at the Emsworth end of the area and parked my bike against the last lampost on the north side of the old road, then walked back a few yards to find the plant in the roadside grass close to the kerb and take a couple of photos shown below. Two views of what may be a hybrid of Blue Fleabane at the Warblington A27 underpass Although these photos are not very good they remind me of what I think are the significant features of the plant for its eventual identification. The plant was only around 12cm tall and consisted of a number of fresh shoots bearing the leaves and flowers that had initially attracted my attention, all growing from a stout wooden stem of what I assume to have been a plant growing there earlier in the year but cut down during mowing of the roadside grass, causing fresh growth of multiple shoots rather than the single upright stem I would expect of a plant growing naturally from seed. The fresh growth was very hairy over its stems and leaves and the egg-shaped flower heads grew in terminal upright clusters though neither the central yellow disk florets (pappus) nor the peripheral blue ray florets (ligules) had yet developed. Another unexpected feature was the presence of several long, pointed 'phyllaries' overtopping each flower head. Although at first glance my photos seem to be of a very different plant to that shown in the image of a good specimen shown on the internet at http://www.eastlondonnature.co.uk/wp- content/files_mf/1301692768ErigeronAcer.jpg there are basic similarities between the two including overall hairiness, long pointed leaves and phyllaries which grow up the sides of the flower heads. I am also considering the rough treatment this plant has had in being mown down, then regrowing in winter weather plus the statement in the Fitter, Fitter and Blamey Collins Wild Flower book that Blue Fleabane likes to hybridise with Canadian Fleabane (see page 268) and this may account for the fact that the flower heads are a lot smaller than the expected 12- 18mm size. I am hoping that the plant will eventually come into flower and show blue ray florets (properly I think called ligules) and also that I will be able to get expert opinion on the basis of the very scanty information provided here. I continued my ride through Emsworth to the Thorney Great Deeps and while going down Slipper Mill Road saw the Gorse bush with its Cotoneaster backing which I had entirely missed on my previous visit (when I only saw what I now see is the second of three flowering Gorse bushes beside this road). Reaching the Little Deeps I had my best sighting of the day, close and prolonged views of two Bearded Tits. From the Great Deeps there were glorious views of the Downs with Kingley Vale and the Goodwood Trundle prominent though the only interest close at hand was of a Skylark making a low fly-past while continuously 'chirruping'. Also from here I had distant views of what I guessed was a raptor flying straight and level from Thornham Lane towards the Little Deeps before plunging down out of my sight - on my way back past the Little Deeps I met Barry and Margaret Collins who were hoping to see what had put up all the ducks from the water a little earlier and this gave me hope that the raptor I had seen was the male Marsh Harrier that Barry thought might have been the cause of the disturbance (though he had not seen the bird so its presence was purely speculative) Fri 27 Dec More wild flowers and an aside on 'Havant Town Millpond'. This morning I headed for the Warblington shore via Pook Lane, returning via the Warblington underpass and the Emsworth Road. Two good flowers went on my list as I crossed the Billy Trail from Grove Road. The first was something I first noticed at this time last winter and which I went out of my way to find again this winter - opening flower buds on a Spurge Laurel plant introduced into Martin Hampton's conservation area and looking healthy but not easy to spot as the creamy coloured tubular flowers are hidden below the glossy dark green leaves. To find it follow the fence of the Conservation Area from Grove Road round the corner until you are about to go down the slope onto the old rail line then look through the fencing for a thin wooden stem no more than a metre high and topped with a crown of narrow, glossy green leaves with hints of the tublular cream coloured flowers peeping out below them. To see a specimen with many more flowers and leaves than this young one go to http://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_diary/wfs_diary_images_large/daphne_l aureola_spurge_laurel_large.jpg and this will give you an idea of what to look for. Years ago this plant was one of the things I used to search for and find in the north west of Stansted Forest but I fear that Deer have eaten the species to extinction there and nowadays I have to thank Martin Hampton for being able to still enjoy the species. The second of my finds here is unmissable if you cross the Billy Trail onto the path leading east - most of the Hazel catkins just above your head here are now fully open and the long golden tassels can hardly evade your eye even if you are not interested in plants. Also seen in this section before reaching Lymbourn Road were a fresh Creeping Buttercup flower and a more mature Hogweed plant, both additions to what I saw yesterday. Heading down the old part of Pook Lane to the sea I enjoyed one unanticipated benefit of the recent rainfall - what had for long been a rather muddy track was now a shining shingle pathway - the stony bed of the track had been washed clean of mud and leaves and was a pleasure to walk on even if some of the cleansing water was still flowing over the surface in places. Coming out on the harbour shore with the tide fully out something of the same effect had been created on the mud but this time by the very strong wind which had cleared the shore of birds and given a smooth, shining gloss to the mud. Walking east (with significant encouragement from the wind) I found some 500 of the Brent in the middle field of the three shore fields between Pook Lane and the Cemetery, then found an equivalent number of gulls in the third field suggesting to my imagination that some form of Apartheid had been enforced by the gale with black Brent being forcibly separated from the white gulls (among which I picked out two Common Gulls when they made brief flights, revealing their black wing tips). Reaching the Emsworth A27 underpass site a Tesco delivery driver who had stopped nearby to stretch his legs surprised me by taking an interest in my interest in the wayside plants and he seemed genuinely excited to be shown a tiny Chickweed flower but after he had gone I made a more interesting discovery of what seemed to be a plant of Blue Fleabane with lots of flower heads though none had as yet put out the ray florets which give the plant its distinctive blue colour and this left me with a slight feeling of uncertainty about the id though I cannot think what else the plant might have been - I hope that next time I pass this way the plant will look like this photo from the internet (see http://www.eastlondonnature.co.uk/wp- content/files_mf/13321038831291500077ErigeronacerBlueFleabaneCRW_2706.j pg) and will be an addition to the flower list for this Emsworth Wayside site. One plant which I could be certain of here was Field Madder and at the far end of the underpass tunnel two Gorse bushes both had fresh flowers. To complete my flower list for this week the Emsworth Road along which I walked back into Havant gave me a single flower on Wood Avens and several flowering plants of Field Woundwort. Finally my 'aside' on Havant's Town Mill Pond which I have been meaning to mention since I first mentioned the presence of Water Voles in the small pond on the east side of Park Road South opposite the Solent Road junction which takes you to the Tesco store. My information comes from the first of three booklets under the title 'The Making of Havant' - this one published in 1977 by a Havant Local History Group describing Havant as it was in 1842. The centrepice is a hand drawn map of the town on which has been superimposed (using dotted lines) the line of the A27 and of Park Road South as they were in 1977. Much has changed since then but the map will enable you to envisage the size and shape of the original pond. Part of the map of Havant in 1842 centering on the Town Millpond Starting in the centre of the bottom of the map you can see the A27 Langstone roundabout and if you follow the dotted line of Park Road north from the roundabout to where it cuts across the Mill Pond you will see to the right of the new road the small section of pond which remains (with one feeder stream curving round to the Homewell spring - marked 14 - and another coming from a source now hidden under the multi-storey carpark). To the left of Park Road all that remains of the pond is the narrow stream which follows the western boundary of the pond and which continues both north and south of the pond along its original lines. Although the replica water wheel has been sited north of the A27 the map shows that the original Town Mill was sited south of the A27 where my photo copy has truncated the representation of the building so that we can only see its roof. Should anyone want to follow up the wealth of local history in these three booklets (published in 1977, 1979 and 1980) I assume they are available in the Havant Library. Thu 26 Dec A walk around Budds Farm finds the first open Hazel Catkins and a 'Probable Water Pipit'. The sun shone throughout the daylight hours today and before I set out Wood Pigeon, Robin and a single Dunnock (but no Song Thrush) could be heard singing from my garden, later being joined by several Wrens and a couple of Collared Doves during my walk which also found 21 wild plants in flower. The only real surprise came as I was walking along the cycletrack beside the A27 north of the Langstone Technology Park where, on one of four Hazel trees, most of the catkins could be said to be flowering (fully elongated and bright yellow though I could not detect any individual stamens). Two other botanic surprises came later, one as I was passing Wade Court where 48 spikes of Winter Heliotrope were in flower and giving off a strong scent of vanilla for the first time, the other as I was nearly home and found a single fresh flower of Herb Robert on a plant growing from an alley wall. Just one bird excited me into thinking it might be a Water Pipit though I did not see enough of it to be certain and the features I did note led me to assume it was a Meadow Pipit though that was because I at first assumed it was a Rock Pipit which it clearly was not. What I saw was a Pipit type bird fly up (when my close presence disturbed it) from the stream running from the South Moors Tamarisk Pool under the seawall path on which I was walking, to fly low over the path and land in the Spartina grass at the edge of the Langbrook stream - this behaviour led me to assume it was a Rock Pipit (a Meadow Pipit would be expected to fly away from the disturbance, gaining height and probably calling) but when I got my bins on it after it landed I could see it was more like a Song Thrush in its colouration (boldy marked breast on a creamy yellow background and light brown upper plumage) and not at all like a Rock Pipit. One other feature that I noted was the leg colour which was pinkish/reddish and definitely not dark - this would seem to rule out Water Pipit though my Collins Guide talks of "usually dark legs" but does not give any alternatives when they are not dark! Other things noted were that the bird seemed large for a Meadow Pipit and (probably irrelevant to the id) that it as holding a large juicy worm in its bill. I did not notice any eye stripe, wing stripes, and most significantly any white outer tail feathers. Back at home after recalling the above features before seeking help with the id I turned to the internet and found a very helpful BTO video guide at http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id/bto-bird-id-water-pipit-and-rock-pipit and this has persuaded me that I have a good case for claiming that my bird was a Water Pipit but until I have more experience of the species this bird must be classed at best as a Probable Water Pipit

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR DEC 16 - 22 (WEEK 51 OF 2013) Mon 16 Dec A short walk round Havant in the rain To get some fresh air I took a short walk round Havant this morning and found just one new plant in flower - Many seeded Goosefoot growing in some profusion along a little used section of roadside pavement along the southwest quadrant of the A27 Langstone roundabout. Before getting there I also spotted unseasonal growth on garden escape Brown Galingale in Juniper Square and heard both Song Thrush and Great Tit in song (which reminds me that before setting out I had heard the great David Attenborough lose his claim to infallibility in mattters of natural history when, on Radio 4, he told us that the bird whose song is widely thought to sound like "A little bit of bread and no cheese" was the Chaffinch). One other thing which I thought significant when scanning the HOS bird sightings for last Saturday (Dec 14) was Andy Johnson's sighting of 16 Sandwich Terns in the mouth of Chichester Harbour, beating Peter Raby's sighting of 12 off Nore Barn at Emsworth on Dec 7. Do these sightings represent a new Hampshire record for the number of Sandwich Terns wintering in the Solent Harbours or are they examples of late passage? The fact that no one else has reported similar sightings in such a well watched area suggests they must be passage birds ...

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR DEC 9 - 15 (WEEK 50 OF 2013) Sat 14 Dec A walk to Budds Farm on a dull damp day This morning I walked down the Billy Trail and across the main Hayling road to the South Moors area and Budds Farm, coming back up the Brockhampton stream and along the south side of the A27 to Havant. Along the Billy Trail I had close views of the first of three Grey Wagtails on the three streams I encountered (Lymbourne, Brockhampton and Langbrook) and started my flower list with Japanese Honeysuckle and a good show of Greater Periwinkle. Across the Hayling Road the grass field had a flock of around 40 Curlew with three Little Egrets and a Grey Heron, and as I crossed the Langbrook to the South Moors a Sparrowhawk flew from the moors towards Langstone village with an urgent and direct 'flap and glide' before a Buzzard appeared low over the South Moors, disappearing among the Tamarisks. At the mouth of the Langbrook there seemed to be more Gadwall than Wigeon but little else and this reminded me that I recently read that Gadwall are partial kleptoparasites and this is supported by http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/gadwall/id which says .. "We don’t tend to think of ducks as pirates, but Gadwall often snatch food from diving ducks as they surface." So far I have not noticed this happening but it is something I will look out for on the Budds Farm pools. Moving on along the shore I had a brief view of a Rock Pipit on the shingle before having a prolonged view of a pair of Stonechats in the old IBM playing field. Nothing unusual on the Budds pools where Gadwall and Shoveler were the most numerous species, and on the harbour shore west of the pools there were a few Turnstone and many Wigeon plus a single Meadow Pipit which identified itself by call and by flying off high into the air. Walking up beside the Brockhampton stream I had my best find of the outing - the first plant of White Comfrey in flower (plus a plant of Cow Parsley also freshly flowering). Back in Havant I found that the work on extending the pavement of Park Road South where it runs past the pond opposite the Solent Road junction is nearing completion and it looks as if there will be no further diminution of the earth bank sloping down to the pond. This work recently featured in the Portsmouth NEWS with a story saying that a local resident whose young children had presumably seen the Water Voles in this pond before the work started was so concerned about the destruction of the Water Vole habitat that she had called on the police to invoke the law protecting the Voles and their habitat - I suspect that they found no evidence that the Voles were established here and so could not be said to be being disturbed by the work which I gather has been done in a way that minimises the disturbance to the earth bank though it may bring pedestrians a few feet closer to the pond and thus make it easier for them to throw their litter into the water.... Wed 11 Dec Sunshine, birdsong and the Shipwright's Way The weather so far this week has been almost summerlike (if you ignore the increasing white frost on the rooftops each morning) and each sunrise has brought a strong burst of song from a local Song Thrush (two or three of them have been singing around Havant during the day) while sunset on Monday gave me a glorious view of Venus high in the southern sky plus full song from a local Blackbird (though while I expect Song Thrushes to sing fairly regularly from now on I do not expect Blackbirds to start regular song until early in March) Tuesday not only gave me two separate Song Thrushes in song as I walked through Havant and Langstone but also gave me my first sight of ornamental cherry blossom in Warblington cemetery as well as a noticeable increase in the number of Yellow Flowered Strawberries in Juniper Square where Lesser Celandine leaves (no hint of flowers yet) were developing in size and number. Today's walk took me down the Billy Trail and introduced me (by means of a new sticker on a metal post where the old rail line passes Grove Road at the southern end of the East Street carpark) to something called The Shipwright's Way which I had not heard of until then though I now see that it has been in existence (at least in concept) since July 2012. I found lots of info about it on the internet but the most concise statement of its route and purpose said .. "The Shipwright’s Way is a new 60-mile leisure path starting at Alice Holt Forest near Farnham and ending at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, home of the Mary Rose, HMS Warrior and HMS Victory. The name reflects the journey of oak grown at Alice Holt to dockyards such as Portsmouth for medieval shipbuilding." If you want to know more go to http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hats/findyourhat/eastcentralhathome/easthampshirehat/ shipwrightsway.htm Continuing my own walk I found a sprightly Grey Wagtail on the Lymbourne Stream just below the bypass bridge, and outside Wade Court the number of Winter Heliotrope flowers had increased to 5. On the mud as I walked east to Pook Lane I saw more Shelduck than previously though as I turned off up Pook Lane I did not get a proper count. I turned for home at the A27 underpass where fresh Red Clover and Charlock were in flower but the only new flower today was on a Wattle tree in a garden on the north side of the Emsworth Road roughly opposite the north end of Wade Court Road. It seems that Wattles come in a great variety but this one had white flowers and the nearest images I can find so far are http://0.tqn.com/d/treesandshrubs/1/0/e/I/-/- /AcaciakoaFlickrScotNelson.jpg (Acacia koa) and http://0.tqn.com/d/treesandshrubs/1/0/g/I/-/- /HickorywattleAcaciapenninervisFlickrdhobern.jpg (Hickory Wattle Acacia penninervis) though neither is I think the one I saw.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR DEC 2 - 8 (WEEK 49 OF 2013)

Fri 6 Dec

Langstone to Nutbourne along the shore In glorious sunshine I cycled down Pook Lane and made my way along the shore to Emsworth, then down to the Thorney Deeps before continuing east to Prinsted and Nutbourne to return along the main road. From the seaward end of Pook Lane I could see some 40 Golden Plover on the as yet uncovered mud to my right with around 10 Shelduck in the water. Nothing much else until the outflow of the Warblington Castle stream which was crowded with Wigeon and at least half a dozen Pintail. Reaching the end of the farm fields and turning north towards Nore Barn Wood I saw one effect of last night's high tides - the pond in the farm field had risen and the water was covering half the field with many gulls and Teal plus a few Godwits enjoying the result - the water from the pond was violently surging out into the harbour and must have been doing so for hours - immediately after the high tide I would guess the whole field was flooded. Plenty of birds off the Nore Barn 'point' and one Little Egret close to the bridge over the Maisemore Gardens stream but nothing else in the stream before it reached the rising tide which was crowded with birds (I think including one Spotted Redshank). Further along the Western Parade was a small group of Pintail but nothing else of significance. Making my way through the Emsworth marina I looked up to see a male Sparrowhawk flying high and straight against the blue sky, heading towards Brook Meadow. Continuing down past the Little Deeps I neither saw not heard anything of interest but at the Great Deeps I found a mass of birders looking at no birds! This was John Goodspeed's HWT group and they had seen Bearded Tits and a Stonechat on the way down and were looking at a group of Greenshank that were hidden from where I was. On my way back north I saw the female Stonechat which has been there for sometime and found it had been joined by a male, then at the Little Deeps I stopped to listen to a group of Bearded Tits and could see another birder about 100 yards further north who was listening to a second group. Finally a female Reed Bunting perched in a small tree and a Heron landed in the reeds. From Prinsted to Nutbourne Point there was nothing to see but lots of water with the tide now nearly high and I feared there would be nothing in the final section around Nutbourne Point but the Avocets did not let me down - unlike the other waders which had flown off to their high tide roosts somewhere on dry land a goodly band of Avocets where happily floating on the water among the gulls - I could not make an accurate count but estimated around 40 were present - almost certainly not the 48 seen recently by Barry Collins nor the 62 photographed there at high tide yesterday by Tony Wootton. In reporting Tony's sighting Brian Fellows says .. "The Avocets were all together out on the water bobbing up and down. Every now and again they would fly off to Thorney only to return." You can see Tony's photo at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x601- avocets-fly-62-nutb-TW-05.12.13.jpg and the different numbers reported recently, which may be influenced by the arrival and departure of sub-flocks stopping off for a time then continuing west, would seem to be also influenced by the individual actions of the birds - I noticed today that two individuals were at first among Godwits on the shore but eventually flew back to join the main 'floating' flock when the Godwits gave in to the rising tide and flew off to roost on dry land. So it could well be that more Avocets were in the area today but had chosen to roost elsewhere... One final observation was of something I have not seen before. When I arrived at the point there was a small flock of Godwits at the shore line and another group of 8 Ringed Plover on the stony shore. As the tide rose in the almost windless sunshine the stones where the birds had been began to glisten and I realised that the water was gradually lifting a layer of seaweed off the stones. Soon the glistening effect turned into a large 'flotilla' of dome shaped bubbles, some big enough to enclose a tennis ball, some even bigger, which must have been filled with gas generated by the effect of the warm sun and rising water on the seaweed. Eventually as the seaweed was lifted further and began to drift away from the stones the bubbles began to burst and disappear but while it lasted it was a magical effect. Wed 4 Dec More November highlights - Insects and Plants Many insect species were active until the very end of November as the following last dates will show. Starting with Dragonflies a Southern Hawker was seen in the New Forest on Nov 27 and three Ruddy Darters were flying at Bembridge, IoW, on Nov 23 while four Common Darters were active in the New Forest on Nov 30. Other species seen during the month were a Migrant Hawker in Shropshire on Nov 12 and a female Vagrant Emperor at Bovey Tracey in Devon on Nov 12 with another in Pembrokeshire on Nov 13. Eight Clouded Yellow butterflies were seen in November, the last at Bonchurch, IoW, on Nov 19. The last date for a Red Admiral sighting that I know of was Nov 30 but I expect others will be seen in December. To indicate the profusion of Red Admirals more than 50 were recorded in Cornwall in just one hour's walk from Rame Head to Penlee Point on Nov 12 (see http://www.surfbirds.com/community- blogs/amigo/2013/11/14/surge-of-red-admirals-along-the-cornish-coast/). One Painted Lady was also seen at Rame Head and was the last sighting with the exception one found inside a Gosport house on Nov 25 - that individual had failed to expand its wings and thus indicates one reason for the winter emergence of some butterflies - it must have pupated inside the house and been deceived into developing by the artificialy high temperature - had it been outside in the cold it might have remained dormant in its pupa until warmed by the genuine heat of spring sunshine. I saw only one report of Small Tortoiseshell but as that was on Nov 26 near Andover I suspect its appearance was also the result of un-natural warming. Other reports were of Peacocks on Nov 15 (Norfolk) and 23 (Sussex), plus four Commas all in Hampshire or Sussex with the last on Nov 16. Various 'fly' species were seen from time to time and these included several sightings of Common Wasps nectaring on Ivy flowers up to Nov 24 Moving on to wild flowers I found 93 species in flower during the month. These included Winter Heliotrope of which I spotted the first (unopen) flowerhead on Nov 15. In Emsworth Hedge Woundwort was in flower on Nov 15 after Field Woundwort had been seen on Warblington Farm on Nov 13. Surprise finds were of Apple of Peru in the Havant New Lane allotments on Nov 12 plus Thorn Apple at Havant Rail station on Nov 16. Cow Parsley was out at Warblington Farm on Nov 4 (and more has been seen in Emsworth on Dec 3) and Ivy coud still be found in flower on Nov 29 and will no doubt be seen in December. A surprise in the Warblington Farm fields was Field Pansy on both Nov 13 and 29 while the number of Sweet Violet flowers under the big Yew in Havant St Faith's Churchyard started with just one on Nov 19, reached 3 on Nov 29 and can be expected to grow considerably during December. To end this section the month saw the discovery of a new species for Havant in the churchyard area in November - Black Spleenwort fern which seems to be spreading in south east Hampshire and was first found in Emsworth last year Tue 3 Dec More than 50 wild flower species flowering in December plus some November highlights A cycle ride this morning to Broadmarsh and on past Farlington Marshes to the Eastern Road roundabout brought my December wild flower list up to fifty species with both Field Scabious and Tall Melilot flowering beside the Farlington Marshes approach road from the roundabout plus three bright yellow Common Toadflax flowers just west of the eastern entrance to Farlington Marshes. Those were unexpected finds but the trip also gave me Storks Bill at the Harts Fam Way west roundabout and both Blue Fleabane and Yellow-wort, not to mention plenty of Gorse flowers, where the cycleway passes Chalkdock Lake. Another unexpected sight , perched on overhead wires above the road entrance to the old Broadmarsh playing fields, was a Buzzard - unmoved by the constant traffic along Harts Farm Way. A bonus as I arrived back home was to hear a Song Thrush in full song despite the gloomy day. Most of my December flowers were seen on Sunday (Dec 1) in a walk around Havant when the only unexpected species were Broad-leaved Willowherb and Purple Toadflax plus the var oxyloba Greater Periwinkle in the Havant Health Centre hedge. One species that I included despite it being planted was the mass of Borage at the Havant Park entrance from Park Road North. Another walk on Monday (Dec 2) added the Yellow Flowered Strawberries in Juniper Square (with 8 flowers now on show) and Japanese Honeysuckle beside the Billy Trail. An unexpected find on that day was of much Red Campion flowering in the Langstone boat park alongside the Lymbourne Stream. A sign that the Little Egrets are now in winter mode was that, despite it being high tide, I could only see two of them at the Pond but found another four in the Pony fields north of Wade Court after seeing that a third flowerhead had appeared on the Winter Heliotrope and that the female, much berried, Butchers Broom was in flower. For more interesting recent observations than my own have a look at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/hellboy.html in which Graeme Lyons comes face to face with a Hairy Crab at Beachy Head and then join him at Oxshott Common in Surrey where more than 3000 species of Fungi have been recorded - he doesn't let that deter him from adding a new species of bracket to the site list and then photographing two more species that were new to him, bringing his all-species life list to 4680 species. Another unusual fungus (Common Porecrust) was found by Cliff Dean growing through the black plastic wrapping around big bales of silage in fields beside the River Rother close to where it flows into Rye Bay - for a close up see http://rxbirdwalks.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/dscf1031-1024x768-2.jpg?w=450 and for a normal view see http://rxbirdwalks.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/dscf1032-1024x470-2.jpg. Back to Graeme for the strange shape of a fungus called Elfin Saddles found at Norbury Park in Surrey - see http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-- okELdl60nI/UoFQvqSwY2I/AAAAAAAAECs/TgUTm0L8Wxg/s400/DSCN0100.JP G. A more colourful find was of a Red Cage (Clathrus ruber) at Durlston (though it has in the past been found in a Cosham garden) - see http://www.durlston.co.uk/images/wildlife/fungi/07%20Jul%20Clathurus%20ruber _Basket%20Fungus%20WEB.jpg - and for a more exciting view of this fungus see the time-lapse photography of its development and decay at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS6iX-k_hnY Turning to recent bird reports I see the usual winter flock of Great Crested Grebes was in the Solent off Brownwich (just west of Titchfield Haven) with 82 birds seen on Nov 24 (though there had been 30 nearby on Nov 17 when 90 were off Worthing). Slavonian Grebes were back off Church Norton with 26 seen on Nov 27 while the Black-necked Grebes in Studland Bay numbered 52 on Nov 29 (max count in Langstone Harbour in November has been 11 on Nov 24). The only Cattle Egret in November was one in the Kent Stour Valley from Nov 17 to 30. RBA reported a total of 10 Glossy Ibis in the UK on Nov 12 (though their figures only reflect what was reported to them on a particular day so should be taken as a minimum). It seems that these birds have not yet settled and are regularly on the move but on Nov 24 four of them pased through Christchurch Harbour. Up to 27 Spoonbill were regularly seen in Poole Harbour with the odd single elsewhere along the south coast with one seemingly settled at Newhaven from Nov 22 onwards. Up to 14 Bewick's Swans have been on the River Arun near Arundel and what I think is an additional family of 5 was on the Adur on Nov 30. A single Black Brant has been seen among the Brent in Hayling Island's West Lane fields and at Farlington Marshes in the second half of the month but the Red-Breasted Goose that was being reported daily in the Keyhaven area has dropped out of the news since Nov 15 (it may well still be there but now regarded as no longer newsworthy). Long-tailed Duck seem to be more numerous than usual along the south coast with birds settled in north Kent, Rye Harbour, Pagham Harbour (5 there on Nov 28), Hayling Oysterbeds, plus others in Devon and Cornwall. A single Surf Scoter has been at Brands Bay in the south of Poole Harbour from Nov 7 to 30 and Goldeneye have at last arrived along the south coast with 5 in Pagham Harbour on Nov 13, 4 at Fishbourne on Nov 22 and 15 in Langstone Harbour on Nov 24 plus others in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. By Nov 26 104 Merganser were in Langstone Harbour and by Dec 3 Smew were already present at Dungeness after the first sighting of two redheads at Oare Marshes (north Kent) on Nov 21. On Nov 29 a single male Ruddy Duck which had survived the cull was on the Pett Pools. On Nov 16 a French site reported a total of 47 Water Rail (which may have just flown in together as a migrant flock before dispersing) and from around that date there have been sightings from many south coast sites - on Nov 26 a group of four in Pagham Harbour were seen fighting amongst themselves (I think this is typical behaviour when they bump into each other on what they think is 'their territory' but one bird on its own at Ferring near Worthing was very happy to potter around a garden all day on its own on Nov 27). Nutbourne Bay has been a good place to see Avocet in recent winters but this year has brought more than usual with a peak count of 55 on Nov 26 (still 48 there on Dec 1) - it will have to attract a lot more to compete with traditional wintering sites such as Brownsea Island and the Exe estuary where they winter in hundreds. Lepe at the mouth of Southampton Water close to Calshot has attracted birders with a Lesser Yellowlegs present from Nov 10 to 30. In Gosport the regular winter Ring-billed Gull (known to locals as 'Waldo') arrived back at Walpole Park in Nov 3 for the 11th successive year. Proof that the small colony of Ring Necked Parakeets is still present in the Swanage area of Dorset came with a report of 6 at Studland on Nov 24 (other than those along the north Kent coast this seems to be their only established colony outside London). It looks as if we may at last have seen the last of the summer hirundines with with 2 Swallows in south Devon on Nov 26 and a single House Martin at The Lizard in Cornwall on Nov 23 though we may still have surprises such as the Sand Martin seen near Beaulieu on Nov 28. Waxwing have yet to arrive in force but one was seen in Yorkshire on Nov 12 and two flew over Oare Marshes on Nov 28 (heading west). A late Whinchat was at Portland on Nov 23 and Thorney Island saw the last Wheatear on Nov 19 but a Ring Ouzel in Devon on Nov 30 may not be the last. The first Song Thrush song was heard at Warblington on Nov 20 and they will probably soon be heard regularly but full song from a Blackbird in Havant on Nov 30 was exceptional. We have all seen Magpies everywhere by day but you may not be aware that like other Corvids they have large night roosts and I was reminded of this by a report of 210 entering such a roost at Southampton Common on Nov 27 - I wonder if they still assemble in the Lyeheath area north of Portsdown where I watched them many years ago? Another roost, this time of over 3000 Jackdaws was reported near Burgess Hill in Sussex on Nov 22.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR NOV 25 - DEC 1 (WEEK 48 OF 2013) Sat 30 Nov Goldeneye, Water Rail and a Blackbird in full song This morning's light wind and sunshine found me walking down the Billy Trail to Langstone, along Mill Lane to the South Moors shore and on along the Budds Farm shore to come up the Brockhampton stream to Harts Farm Way before heading home along the cycleway south of the A27. The Billy Trail gave me views of a Kestrel hovering over the Langstone 'new housing' and fresh flowers on Greater Periwinkle while at the west end of Mill Lane the seed pods of Evergreen Spindle (Euonymus japonica) had started to crack open revealing the bright orange seeds. Crossing the bridge onto the South Moors I also noticed for the first time this winter the bright yellow Velvet Shank toadstools were once again growing on the wood of the Willow Tree just south of the bridge on a low branch which gets submerged in the stream at high tides. The tide was still high and more than 30 Merganser were off the Langbrook stream mouth with an equal number of Gadwall but few Wigeon among them. As I scanned the birds my eye was caught by the bright white and black plumage of a male Goldeneye, my first of the winter - although I could not pick out any females it was occasionally throwing its head back in display mode. Moving on west along the shore path I first heard, then saw, a Rock Pipit going east in level flight below my eye-level and at the west end of the seawall a second Rock Pipit perched briefly on the wall before seeing me and diving back to the shingle. Budds Farm pools had many Teal and a good number of Shoveler and Gadwall plus a few Mallard and Tufted Duck with 4 Pochard. Continuing along the shore I added 3 Turnstone and a smart Scandinavian Lesser Blackback to my list, followed by a couple of adult Swans near the Broadmarsh slipway (the family seem to have left the pools). Turning inland along the Brockhampton stream I had good views of a Water Rail just downstream from the bridge which leads to the fence of the electricity sub- station. The Rail was totally undisturbed and I was able to see clearly both its uprght flicking stern-post of a tail and its long red bill. Nearing Harts Farm Way I began to hear what sounded like Blackbird song coming from somewhere near Southmoor Lane and the song continued until I reached the entrance to the lorry park into which a huge lorry was making its way as I arrived. Despite this disturbance the song continued and I spotted the Blackbird on the very tip of one of the conifers overhanging the entrance. As I turned off Brookside Road to follow the cycle way round the north of the Technology Park I had my last surprise of the morning - Creeping Thistle still in full flower among a patch of what may be Senecio squalidus subsp. chrysanthemifolius a rare subspecies of Oxford Ragwort. I first noticed this unusual looking Ragwort, which has very narrow leaf segments, here in June last year but have failed to attract the interest of botanists to come and inspect the plants. Fri 29 Nov Warblington to Nore Barn This morning I walked from Havant to the Pook Lane motorway bridge, down to the shore and along it to Nore Barn, coming back up the 'Selangor Avenue' path and then along the road into Havant. A small Tit flock accompanied me down Pook Lane where I was surprised by the sound of a Bull in the Wade Farm fields expressing a wish to get across the lane into the Warblington Farm field which was full of cows. Reaching the shore I sat on the bench to scan the mud at low tide which was crowded with Brent but little else - the one thing I noted was a Harvestman taking a walk across the brick base of the bench I was on! Heading east along the shore I found the outflow of the Warblington central stream crowded with a good variety of birds including 33 Shelduck and at least half a dozen smart Pintail Around Conigar Point I saw just two Tamarisks still having fresh flowers and in the field behind the point I found 14 wild flower species still with flowers - among them Field Woundwort and Field Pansy. Until I was half way across the field I thought it was birdless until a single Skylark rose close to me, chirruping as if it might burst into full song. A moment or so later there were 36 Skylarks in the air and then an estimated 40 Linnets were airborne - the only other birds were a single Robin and three Dunnock in the northern hedge. Off Nore Bar there was a huge crowd of Teal, dwarfing the number of Wigeon and Black-tailed Godwit while the tide was too low for any Swans near the shore. Having seen Brian Fellows recent blog entry I was able to make two new discoveries along the southern edge of the wood - one was the Butchers Broom on which he photographed a flower, the other was to pick out the bench in memory of his friend named Mant. Also in this area (the grassland near the Harbour wildlife interpretation board) I was puzzled by the presence of a single fresh molehill - this implied to me that a Mole had only recently started digging in this area but if so how far had it travelled overland to be here - the nearest signs of Mole activity are I think in the Warblington Farm fields, at least 300 metres away though it may have only come just over 100 meters from the field north of the wood. I had not previously thought about how Moles get to the places where we see their 'hills' but I guess they must make fairly substantial nightly journeys on the surface rather than underground. Also seen close to the Interpretation Board was Ivy still in fresh flower and attracting Wasps. My only observation on the way home was of a new site for Field Woundwort - I had just crossed Southleigh Road at its junction with Emsworth Road and was on the pavement heading west into Havant when I saw several plants just coming into flower at the west end of the short metal barrier keeping pedestrians from the Emsworth Road at the traffic lights. Thu 28 Nov Late afternoon visit to the Hayling Oysterbeds In the late afternoon of a very gloomy but dry and almost windless day I cycled to the Oysterbeds making my first stop at the north end of the old rail bridge from where I could see three Shelduck were newcomers among the expected assembly of waders and wildfowl. Crossing the road bridge I saw 25 Black-tailed Godwit in Texaco Bay before the most exciting observation of the day - I had just turned onto the track separating the south end of the Bay from the partly flooded field when a male Sparrowhawk appeared at high speed over my left shoulder, did a tight right turn to cross the track ahead of me before continuing its turn right round a small Hawthorn less than two yards from me but found no potential supper there and shot off towards the main Hayling road. Only as it left the scene did a Blue Tit in a bush to my left wake up to potential danger and started making alarm calls. At the Oyster beds the Long Tailed Duck was still in the lagoon where it had been joined by four Little Grebes and in the outer pool, now empty of water, some 20 Shelduck were shifting the mud while out in the harbour the predominant birds were Merganser with a few Great Crested Grebe but no Black-necked that I could see. Back on the Langstone Pond seawall I could see some 70 Golden Plover lining their favourite mud channel east of the 'grassy' saltings with five more Shelduck a little closer to me. Heading up the Wade Lane 'tunnel' I had my second bonus of the outing - a few disjointed notes from a Song Thrush in the trees lining the Lymbourne stream Wed 27 Nov (Link to previous day’s entry) Water Rail in Havant Lymbourne Stream Yesterday I had a phone call from Tony Gutteridge to say that he had seen a Water Rail in the Lymbourne Stream not far above the footbridge bringing the path from Wade Lane to the Billy Trail - this was mid-morning and the bird was seen clearly in the stream, not skulking in cover, which seemed to indicate that it had only just arrived and was unfamiliar with the habitat. Today I walked down the Billy Trail and along the narrow streamside path from the A27 to the footbridge, not expecting to see the bird but looking for Lesser Celandine plants which traditionally flower early here where they are protected from cold winds under the stream banks and have their roots nourished by the warmish water of the stream which has not long emerged from underground at the Lymbourne spring (though I don't expect to see flowers until mid-December). I had just spotted the leaves of one plant when there was a commotion on the far side of the stream and a smallish bird flew up from the water, went a short distance downstream, then up and over the fence into the pony field where it disappeared from my view. The light here was very poor and I could see little detail (I did not notice if the bird's legs were dangling) but I am sure there was no obvious white under the tail area but there was a large pale patch on the bird's side below its wings so my guess is that this was a Water Rail and may well stay by the stream. I'm not sure how many of these small birds arrive in southern England at this time of year but I recall that in the 1980s there were sufficient for it to be worth organising a shoot of them in the Tournerbury Woods on Hayling Island and also finding one dead at the foot of the glass-walled IBM buildings at North Harbour after presumably having been attracted down to the small lake on the north side of the building, then when it found the lakeside there was not the habitat it was seeking it must have taken off again, been deceived by moonlight reflected from the glass walls, and broken its neck by flying into the glass and falling back to the gound. Where I left the stream bank near the footbridge trees had been cut down under the overhead power lines and in the wood chips remaining on the ground there were many small toadstools of the Psathyrella type and further down the Billy Trail I found Japanese Honeysuckle newly in flower. At Langstone Pond the Swan family was among a large crowd of hungry ducks gobbling up bread which I mention as I see that Brian Fellows was apparently not aware that three cygnets of this year's brood were reduced to just two more than a month ago (I think it may have been in September or earlier but I can only find a note of 2 cygnets on Oct 29). Heading up the unsurfaced part of Wade Lane I found more fresh toadstools - a tight cluster of small puffballs which I think are Lycoperdon pyriforme - and outside the Wade Court area the single flower stem of Winter Heliotrope had been joined by a second, neither having their flowers open so difficult to spot. Mon 25 Nov (Link to previous day’s entry) Bearded Tits at Thorney Deeps and both Pintail and Avocets at Nutbourne This morning I cycled to Nutbourne via the Thorney Deeps, coming back via Southbourne and Westbourne, seeing a good selection of birds but few flowers. My first stop to scan the birds on the low tide came when I reached the southern end of the Deck Houses, just before dropping down onto the lower track inside the sea wall. With the tide low both the Emsworth Channel and the mud below me were crowded with birds - the water had many Brent but I was more interested in the other birds which included a Sheduck, a dozen or more Knot among the Dunlin and one or two Ringed Plover and Turnstone as well as the Redshank and Grey Plover. Continuing south there was nothing special on the Little Deeps but further south I found a female Stonechat, probably the same bird that was here on my last visit. At the Great Deeps there were at least 15 Shelduck (with another 11 by the Emsworth Channel) and a dozen Canada Geese with a Great Blackback at the far end of the visible Deeps and three Greenshank with several Little Egrets and just a pair of Wigeon at the near end. Heading back north I heard the pinging of a few Bearded Tits close to the Little Deeps but despite stopping for some time saw no sign of them. Turning east along the old NRA track brought me to Thornham Lane where a Chiffchaff was singing near the sewage works and the roadside here was bright green with fresh growth of Alexanders. Nothing of much interest until I reached Nutbourne Bay where I found at least 15 Pintail and at least 36 Avocet showing well close to the viewing bench - my attempts at counting them gave me 38 at the first pass and 37 at the second! While still here my attention was drawn to the section of the Ham Brook stream (immediately below the flap through which it emerges into the bay) by the harsh calls of a Crow which seemed intent on driving off the Teal and waders which had been peacefully enjoying the fresh water - the Crow made at least four passes along this section of the stream and by the end it had driven all other birds away - at one point I watched a tight flock of some 20 Teal fleeing panic-stricken from the avian curses the Crow was delivering! Nothing notable on the ride home but one observation that I omitted to include in my previous entry concerned a cloud of Gnats/Midges seen over the Langbrook stream on Saturday - what struck me at the time was the way they formed a tight spherical ball about 50mm in diameter and perhaps 100mm above the stream. I usually see these insects flying around at random, so why were these in such a tight formation? Another insect observation came on Sunday when I was at the A27 underpass Emsworth Wayside. I had paused there to check the flowers which included Burnet Saxifrage and Field Madder still flowering with a ground cover of tiny Parsley Piert leaves ornamented with sparkling 'dew drops' when I noticed a patch of Ivy still in full flower and still attracting several Wasps. Where this Wayside area meets the A259 a large old tree had presumably fallen quite recently and its hefty trunk had been cut into sections which had been moved aside to allow cyclists to get through the small gap in the metal barrier at the east end while the branches of the tree had also been cut off and dragged out of the way.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR NOV 18 - 24 (WEEK 47 OF 2013)

Sat 23 Nov

Woodcock and Snipe on Langstone South Moors and Cemetery Pages updated Today's walk to Budds Farm started with a surprise that may affect the Water Voles in the Dolphin Pond beside Park Road South - the pavement opposite the Solent Road junction appears to be in the course of being widened to cover more of the pond bank, the top of which has been dug out and will no doubt be covered with concrete and built up to support the extended pavement, reducing the amount of earth bank in which the Voles had been tentatively burrowing a few weeks ago and bringing human disturbance closer to the water in which the Voles are usually seen (to say nothing of the current temporary disturbance during the building work) Heading south beside the Langbrook stream I found both flowers and rich red (but small) fruit on the Yellow-flowered Strawberries seen by the path a few yards after crossing the Technology Park access road but nothing more of interest until reaching the very wet and muddy section as you near 'The Mallards' housing - today I followed the example of previous walkers and(with difficulty) climbed the steep earth bank and descended onto the pavement of the road connecting the Technology Park to the east end of Penner Road where you can rejoin the streamside path and so reach the South Moors. A chattering charm of Goldfinches and a single Butchers Broom flower were the only signs of life seen on the Moors until I reached the gate into the 'Orchid Field' where I decided to see if any Marsh Marigolds were flowering in the tiny pool at the north end of the field (in 2011 the first flower was open on Oct 10). Managing to cross the peripheral stream without getting my feet wet I was nearing the pool area, half expecting to put up a Snipe, when a slightly bigger brown bird get up and flew low with a 'floppy' flight into the dense woodland over the western fence - definitely a Woodcock, the first I have seen for several years. The pool seemed to have become covered in rough vegetation and I did not see even a leaf of a Marsh Marigold plant but on the way back I did put up a single Snipe. At Budds Farm Teal, Shoveler and Gadwall were plentiful and I saw several Tufted Duck and at least two Pochard. Later, coming back along the shore, I added large numbers of Wigeon, Brent and Oystercatchers to my list plus a good half dozen Turnstones and several Grey Plover. Away from the water's edge a single Meadow Pipit flew up calling and what must have been a Rock Pipit flew low and silently along the beach close to the foot of the seawall. Passing Langstone Pond I saw Redshanks, Lapwings and a few Black-tailed Godwits and at Wade Court I was disappointed to find that the single Winter Heliotrope flower had not become more colourful. While uploading this Diary entry I am also uploading new pages reflecting the visits I made this week to the Havant and Warblington cemeteries and to St Faith's churchyard here in Havant. To see what I found and the photos that I took go to http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm and select the links to the latest entries to the three sites. Wed 20 Nov First Song Thrush song and more news from last week A bright sun in a clear sky gave me an opportunity to make my monthly visit to Warblington cemetery where I found little of wildlife interest to photograph other than one clump of puffballs growing in grass (no visible wood) close to where I recently photographed the Spectacular Rustgills - my best guess as to their id is taken from Stefan Buczacki's Collins New Generation Guide to Fungi and is Lycoperdon molle which does grow in grass without a wooden substrate.

Puffballs in grass - probably Lycoperdon molle Another discovery was of a phrase that I have not seen before on a tombstone - it said 'See you later Alligator'. That photo will not be included in my November review of wildlife in Warblington Cemetery which I should get online by this weekend. The most exciting observation this afternoon was to hear the first autumn snatches of Song Thrush song. Last year I heard my first Song Thrush singing on Nov 14 though full song had been reported in the Hastings area on Oct 30 - this year I have seen no reports so far so the pleasure at hearing the sound was that much more intense. Also noted, with dusk approaching, was a total of 10 Collared Doves in the Farmyard area when I arrived and what may have been another 8 as I was leaving an hour or so later so these birds are not yet extinct here... Last Sunday I listed some of the bird news from the internet which had caught my attention recently and today I will pick out some of the non-bird news before it is too out of date and I will start with my own sighting of a Water Vole in the Dolphin Court pond alongside the busy Park Road South road into Havant opposite its junction with Solent Road. I have already written about this on the day of the sighting (Nov 8) and you can see the details in my diary page for that day (http://ralph-hollins.net/Diary.htm#0811) but it does help to confirm the view that Water Voles are well established along the Langbrook stream and are not afraid of the human activity around the stream in Havant providing that there is food and somehere to hide (though there may not be enough of either for breeding here in the town). Another of my own sightings was of a Sea Slater on the sea wall of Warblington Farm on Nov 13 and again you can see more on this at http://ralph- hollins.net/Diary.htm#1311. Several interesting fungi have been seen this month and I suggest you check out what Graeme Lyons saw when he went to Norbury Park in Surrey on Nov 10 - see http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/plums-and- custard.html. Locally I added a new species to my personal list when I found several specimens to Pleurotus dryinus on an Elder tree in the hedge of one of the Warblington Farm fields on Not 13 - if you want to know what this looks like see http://www.svims.ca/council/illust/Pleurotus%20dryinus%201%20Michael%20Beu g.htm.

Tue 19 Nov Havant New Lane allotments and Cemetery I took the opportunity of this afternoon's bright sunshine to make my monthly visit to Havant Cemetery but first I walked a little further up New Lane for what is likely to be my last view this autumn of the Weasel's Snout and Common Ramping Fumitory flowers growing at the foot of the fence separating the allotments from the New Lane pavement and while there I took the photos shown below.

One of three remaining Weasel's Snout plants and a closer view of its flowers

Common Ramping Fumitory plant and a couple of its few flowers On my way home I walked through the cemetery and took some photos of the fallen leaves and bare branched trees plus some odd flowers - a plant with Ox- eye Daisies still in flower, several plants of Spotted Dead-nettle and one Musk Mallow flower bud trying to open! The only colour appropriate to the time of year was a good crop of red berries on the Cockspur Thorn trees. South of the New Lane level crossing I found work on the road to serve the new houses soon to be built on the Warblington Scool playing fields had advanced into the playing fields area but of more interest to me was the sight of several plants of Common Fumitory enjoying the tree clearance and soil disturbance close to the existing road - I wonder what else will appear in the disturbed soil?

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR NOV 11 - 17 (WEEK 46 OF 2013)

Sun 17 Nov

Green Sandpiper in Hermitage Stream and Thorn Apple at Havant Station For my morning exercise I cycled to where the Hermitage Stream flows through the Stockheath area of Leigh Park to see if a Green Sandpiper was back there for the winter. I could not see it from the first footbridge upstream of Barncroft Way nor from the second bridge but as I was coming back south and had re-passed the first bridge I noticed a substantial gap in the trees which line the east side of the stream and as I went through onto the stream bank I saw the distinctive white rump of the Sandpiper disappearing round the next bend upstream (i.e. towards the first bridge). The bird gave no sharp alarm call and flew low to the water so I'm pretty sure it intended to stay there. On my way back home I rode through Havant Park, taking the exit that leads into the Havant Station Taxi rank, and this time stopped to look at the Thorn Apple plant. In fact I saw there were two healthy plants, both with 'thorn apple' fruits while one did have a single white flower. Nothing else of note on this drab day but I did manage to bring my trawl of online wildlife news up to date and should tomorrow be able to start on a summary of the past couple of weeks but a quick scan has discovered the following highlights. An immature Surf Scoter has been in Brands Bay (near the mouth of Poole Harbour) from Nov 7 to 16 while a female Long-Tailed Duck has been in the Hayling Oysterbeds from Nov 6 to 17. A few Goldeneye have started to arrive on the south coast after 100 were seen at Tyneside in the north on Nov 11 (when 4 reached Dungeness). On Nov 13 there were 5 in Pagham Harbour and one at the Blashford Lakes were there are now four. On Nov 10 the first of the Great Bustards away from Salisbury Plain on their winter holidays was seen near Braunton in north Devon. On Nov 11 a massive westerly movement of Little Gulls brought 1138 of them over Portland (five time the previous peak count there). The expected huge Wood Pigeon movements have been seen in southern England during the past week leaving everyone puzzled as to where the birds come from and where they go to (I hear that because there is no solid data to answer these questions the BTO officially deny that they occur and as similar movements do not seem to occur on the continent my theory is that they are not 'movements' as such but a sort of spontaneous upheaval of the birds as they feel winter coming on and are similar to a huge 'Mexican Wave' across southern England (very obvious to those who see it occurring but leaving no signs before and after it occurs). Small numbers of Swallows are still being seen daily and ones and twos of House Martins are still around - one was seen at Selsey today (Nov 17) along with an exceptionally late Yellow Wagtail. Arriving rather than leaving was a single Waxwing in Yorkshire on Nov 12. Another oddity for the time of year has been a Red-Breasted Flycatcher at Pevensey from Nov 6 to 14 at least. Two very unexpected birds have been, firstly, a Yellow-Rumped or Myrtle Warbler found dead in Southampton Docks (presumably arriving on board a ship) and secondly a colourful Village Weaver photographed on a bird table at Plymstock in Devon (see http://www.devonbirds.org/images/cache/6700a20ec6419695d9f0eded84f2ebf8.j pg) I hope to pick out the insect and plant highlights tomorrow but must mention Steve Cutts latest contribution to the Three Amigos blog in which he describes a walk along the Cornish coast on Nov 12 during which he saw at least 50 Red Admirals on the wing - see http://www.surfbirds.com/community- blogs/amigo/2013/11/14/surge-of-red-admirals-along-the-cornish-coast/

Sat 16 Nov Flowers around Broadmarsh and a Winter Heliotrope bud at Wade Court Another glorious sunny morning with little wind took me to Broadmarsh where the tide was at its highest and smooth as ice. Very little to note on the way there other than a full grown but flowerless Thorn Apple plant in the flower bed behind the Taxi Rank at the west end of Havant Station building - I didn't stop to check it closely but I think it had at least one prickly fruit. Starlings were singing on the roof tops of houses as I made my way through Bedhampton, as were several Robins and Wrens, while a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from trees near the Mill. Crossing the footbridge over the A27 I looked down into the Hermitage Stream which was almost topping its banks thanks to the high tide, and on the water six Little Grebes paniced, running over the surface to hide in bankside vegetation. The only birds to be seen on the water of Chalk Dock Lake were a good number of Wigeon and slightly fewer Brent but none of the Great Crested Grebe I expected. The saltings off Farlington Marshes had a good roost of Redshank and Lapwing but the only other bird I noticed was a single Curlew. Turning my attention to the flowers beside the cycleway as I turned back I found an increased display of Gorse in flower and my eye was caught by a striking show of red berries on a Stinking Iris. Further on quite a lot of Blue Fleabane was still flowering and just before leaving the Broadmarsh Park area I was surprised by a single Yellow Wort plant with many fresh flowers. Nearing the roundabout at the end of Harts Farm Way a single Ox-eye Daisy was in fresh flower and at the point where you can cross over Harts Farm Way I was surprised by the mass of Storks-bill and Charlock flowers with Red Clover and Common Mallow also in flower. Back in Havant I went down Wade Court Road and Wade Lane to check on something I had seen yesterday - the very first flower spike on the Winter Heliotrope outside Wade Court. Yesterday there was no colour in the flower buds but today, although the buds are not open, you can see their colour in the photo below.

The mass of Winter Heliotrope leaves along Wade Lane outside Wade Court and the single first flower spike Fri 15 Nov North Hayling at high tide This morning bright sunshine (and a chill north west wind) persuaded me to cycle to the Oysterbeds in the hope that the Long-tailed Duck would still be there on the morning high tide and I was not disappointed - it was in the west side of the lagoon and by going to the west end of the southern bund I got within a few yards of it as it sat peacefully on the still water. Further away, on the outer bund of the outer pools, huge numbers of Dunlin, Grey Plover, Oystercatchers and no doubt smaller numbers of other waders were sitting out the tide and I had my first view of Shelduck in full winter numbers - some 25 here and later another 13 at the Northney Marina pool. On the water were four female Mergansers and one or two Great Crested Grebes with the odd Cormorant but I did not spot any Black- necked Grebe I don't think anyone has yet seen a Goldeneye in either Langstone or Chichester Harbour. Other than a few Wigeon the only other duck seen here were three Gadwall. Moving to North Common I was greeted by a tiny Goldcrest flying over my head and disappearing into the hedge before I reached the Marina pool where substantial flocks of both Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit were waiting patiently for the tide to fall. Moving on to the old Boating Lake there was the usual large roost of Redshank with fewer Teal than I expected but the bonus was the presence of another 13 Shelduck. On land Gorse was at last starting to flower and in addition to a good show of Bristly Oxtongue and Wild Carrot I was surprised to find a fresh flower on a Spear Thistle while the roadside ditch as I cycled back to Langstone Bridge had an equally fresh flowering plant of Sea Aster. Passing the Royal Oak on the Langstone shore I found the Swan Family from the pond out on the harbour from which they took off as I watched - the cygnets showing themselves to be better fliers than their parents (no doubt they weigh less!). They disappeared from my sight behind the Mill but I am told they landed back on the pond where I could see nothing new other than Tony and Helen Gutteridge doing a 'Winter Thrush' survey in which the Thrushes were declining to co-operate but Tony did tell me that he now has a winter Blackcap in his Havant garden.

Wed 13 Nov Havant to Nore Barn along the shore and back over the fields The sun was shining and the wind very light when I set out to walk along the shore towards Emsworth this morning and as I passed Wade Court I paused to check the many Winter Heliotrope leaves for any sign of the first flowers which appear soon after the first frost which we had this morning. No luck yet but the weather forecast suggests they should be seen next week. Nothing special on the wide expanse of mud between Langstone Pond and the end of the raised sea wall path east of Pook Lane but the concrete faced sea wall which comes next had a surprise. As I paused to look over it into the field south of Warblington cemetery something ran up the wall in front of me, pausing to give me a good view of "a double sized Wood Louse with twin tails" - if you look at http://www.arkive.org/sea-slater/ligia-oceanica/ and work though the set of photos of Sea Slaters you will see what I mean. These Sea Slaters are abundant around most of Britain's coasts (more so on rocky shores) but I have only seen them once before when they were swarming along the shore of Fareham Creek and this is the first time I have seen one in Chichester or Langstone Harbours (though that may be because I don't spend much time sifting through rotting seaweed which is their main food). My next stop was just after rounding Conigar Point where I entered the field behind the point via the gap in the hedge for a walk round the field which has been left 'fallow' after its Sweet Corn crop was harvested. This field has an excellent selection of wild flowers and today I found 20 species in flower including a lot of Field Woundwort, Field Madder, Black Nightshade and Common Fumitory. I also found a couple of plants of Green Field Speedwell with their small, instensely blue, flowers among the Common Field Speedwell and also two flowering plants of Field Pansy. In the northern hedgerow an Elder bush had several medium sized white fungi growing from the branches with a shape similar to Oyster Mushrooms and as I was not familiar with them I checked them out when I got home and am pretty certain they were Pleurotus dryinus (see http://www.svims.ca/council/illust/Pleurotus%20dryinus%201%20Michael%20Beu g.htm). This reminds me that yesterday in a Havant alleyway I found my first fresh cluster of Common Inkcaps. There were few birds in this field but a large number (maybe 50) Skylarks flew up from the next field to the west, and after I had returned to the shore I heard and saw a single Reed Bunting in the southern hedge of the next field to the east. Turning the corner of this field to head north to Nore Barn Wood I had the further surprise of seeing a male Common Darter still active in the sunshine. Elsewhere several clumps of flowering Ivy were still attracting a lot of Wasps Tue 12 Nov Surpising colour under Polypody Fern fronds Back in September I included a photo of Polypody Ferns in my monthly piece on wildlife in St Faith's Churchyard here in Havant and recently this came to the attention of Martin Rand, the BSBI Plant Recorder for south Hampshire. It seems he was intrigued by the location of this fern and asked me to send him a specimen when the sori ('seeds') were ripe so, as I had not looked under the fronds when I took the photo in September, I went to check on them this afternoon and had a very pleasant surprise as you can see from the photo I took today. Not only are there many sori under each frond but they are of a surprisingly bright colour - not just the dull rust brown that I expected.

Polypody fronds in September and their colourful Sori today Martin not only wanted to see the sori under his microscope to determine whether this is Common, Southern or Intermediate Polypody or some hybrid, but he also wanted to know what they were growing on. As this wall could have been originally built by the Romans the materials are not necessarily local and to my untrained eye the blocks of stone on which these Ferns seem to be growing appear to have a reddish tone suggesting Sandstone and I guess they are held together with some ancient limestone mortar. Other plants found flowering this afternoon included the Apple of Peru, Weasels Snout and Common Ramping Fumitory at the New Lane allotments, the Soapwort beside Park Road North on the rail bridge, a single fresh rose on a Rosa rugosa (Japanese Rose) bush, and a bright new flower on the Greater Periwinkle var Oxyloba in the hedge around the Havant Health centre. Another unexpected find was of Broad Leaved Willowherb with several fresh flowers.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR NOV 4 - 10 (WEEK 45 OF 2013)

Sun 10 Nov

Cycle ride fron Havant to Nutbourne Bay and back Today's glorious sunshine saw me heading east along the Emsworth shore, then down to the Thorney Deeps before following the shore to Nutbourne Bay and then returning along the main road. The tide was low and there was not much bird activity until I reached the Thorney Little Deeps where a female Stonechat was my only note. At the Great Deeps some 50 Lapwing flew in from the East and there was a similar number of Golden Plover on the mud by the Emsworth Channel. I also noted that the military intercom was out of action with a note giving a phone number to ring to request entrance. The next bird interest came when I reached the east end of Nutbourne Bay with the tide still low and the sun directly south making it difficult to see what birds there were but by going down onto the shingle near the outflowing Ham Brook stream I was able to feel sure that there was a substantial flock of Avocet some 150 metres from me, all huddled tightly together and up to their bellies in the rising tide (so they probably moved elsewhere soon after I saw them) - I believe there were 14 of them but may have been one or two out. After following the A259 back to the A27 I diverted down Pook Lane and along the shore to Wade Lane enabling me to see a substantial flock of at least 200 Bar-tail Godwits on the edge of the harbour water and then to see at least 50 Teal back in the Pony Field into which the Lymbourne Stream is now overflowing in its usual winter fashion. The only other note of any interest was that I saw two Red Admirals still flying, one at Prinsted Bay where there were a few Shelduck, and one high over Wade Lane Sat 9 Nov Wildlife highlights for Oct 26 to Nov 6 (continued)

Birds (continued from yesterday's diary page) ... Yesterday we had reached the end of the sea and shore birds so we now resume with Pigeons starting with Stock Doves which started to arrive from the continent on Oct 29 with 255 seen at Seaford followed on Oct 30 with 900 over Hastings and on Nov 4 with 330 at Dungeness (which had been reporting smaller numbers betwee 50 and 100 on each of the first three days of November. Wood Pigeon numbers had been building up on the continent during October (e.g. the peak count at one of the 35 sites reporting unusual numbers on Oct 19 was 154,600) and John Clark reported the first major passage over the Aldershot area with 7350 going over in 2hr 40 min - surprisingly they were heading south but Wood Pigeon movements often seem mysterious with the birds only moving for a short period in the early morning, moving in unpredictable directions (probably into the wind rather than on the compass bearing of a known destination), and following narrow corridors such that someone under the flight path will see thousands while someone a mile away will see none. Another mystery is where they go to - the movement is generally westward but I have never seen reports of huge flocks settling in the West Country for the winter nor of large departures over the coast - maybe they leave us in the depths of the night?. Just two Turtle Doves were reported in November, one in Cornwall on Nov 1 and one in the Kent Stour Valley on Nov 3. Another late leaver was a single young Cuckoo in the Scillies on Oct 28. Several Pallid Swifts visited Britain in October, the latest being three over Foreness Point in Kent on Oct 27 and one which circled for an hour over Roberstbridge in East Sussex on Oct 31. Single Wrynecks were still in Devon on Oct 30 and both Cornwall and the Scillies on Nov 5. On Oct 27 a single Shorelark was on Beachy Head and we may soon hear of others - by Nov 8 RBA was reporting a total of 7 in the UK. Both Swallows and House Martins were still being seen at Durlston this week and I suspect the last is yet to be reported - the same goes for Wheatear with one at Christchurch Harbour on Nov 5 and Ring Ouzel (one at Dungeness on Nov 4). Everyone now has a good chance of seeing Fieldfares, Redwings and continental Song and Mistle Thrushes but if you want to reflect on what you have missed by not spending October in the Scillies go to http://www.scilly-birding.co.uk/latest-sightings/ and work back - when you reach Nov 1 click the 'Continue reading' link and thereafter use the link to the previous day at the end of that day's full list. Late birds seen nearer home have been a Common Whitethroat at Shoreham on Nov 4 and an Eastern Lesser Whitethroat at Portland also on Nov 4 A good local bird that may well still be around is a juvenile Red-backed Shrike in the fields north of Pagham Harbour. A message on the SOS Website on Nov 8 with directions for finding it read .. "The juv RED-BACKED SHRIKE still at the North Wall, Pagham Harbour. Walk past Halsey's Farm picket post on muddy path, bird was on bracken on other side of ditch." On Nov 8 it had been there for at least four days. Great Grey Shrikes should be easier to find - reports in our review period (Oct 26 on) show they have been seen at Woolmer Pond and Broadwater Warren in Sussex, at Fernycroft and Bishops Dyke in the New Forest, and (since Nov 4) behind Beam Cottage in the Hook with Warsash area. Latest report is from Devon at Colaton Raleigh just west of Sidmouth. Interesting Finch reports incude a sighting of 6 Hawfinches at the Eastleigh Lakes on Nov 1 and of Snow Buntings at Goring from Oct 30 to Nov 2 at least, another on Stenbury Down IoW from Oct 27 to Oct 30, one at Hill Head (nr Titchfield Haven) from Oct 26 to Nov 4. Other reports which I lump together as Vagrants include the last sighting of the Semi-palmated Plover at Black Point (Hayling) on Oct 29, a Lesser Kestrel at Hope's Nose in south Devon on Oct 28 (photo at http://www.devonbirds.org/images/cache/313873042442e7b810988039f9f9f453.j pg), a mega rarity Yellow Rumped (Myrtle) Warbler on Lundy on Oct 28, an American Robin on the Scillies on Oct 30 and on The Lizard on Nov 1, a White's Thrush on the Scillies on Oct 30 and a Hermit Thrush at Porthgwarra in Cornwall on Nov 1 (see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jHXYkLBSYBA

Dragonflies This must be a record year for latest dates for many species. The last Common Hawker was seen on Oct 29 in Cornwall. Nov 2 saw the last Migrant Hawkers, Willow Emeralds and Vagrant Emperors. Nov 4 brought the last reports I am currently aware of Southern Hawker in Somerset, Black Darter in the New Forest, Red veined Darter also in the New Forest, and Common Darter in both Sussex and Berkshire plus one here in the Havant area. For more info on these and previous Dragonfly sightings go to http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/latest- sightings

Butterflies As might be expected Red Admirals were still being seen on Nov 9 as I write this. On Nov 8 a Painted Lady was active in Brighton. On Nov 4 Comma, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Small Copper were all seen in Hampshire with Clouded Yellows at Thorney Island, Shoreham and Sheffield Park in Sussex (on Nov 3 at least one Clouded Yellow was flying at Gunner Point, Hayling Island). The last active Small Tortoiseshell was enjoying fallen apples at Mortimer North End in north Hampshire on Oct 30 with another three seen in Sussex that day - also that day a Large White was seen at Lindfield in Susssex. A Brimstone was reported from the Winchester area on Oct 29, one day after a pair were seen on the Sussex Downs at Heyshott - also on Oct 29 a Common Blue was still active in Gosport and, most surprising of all, a Long-tailed Blue was blown into a garden near St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight.

Moths I only keep note of exceptional moths and one that I am interested in is the Hummingbird Hawkmoth which now hibernates in this country - unfortunately the last one reported as active on Nov 5 (on the SOS site) was eaten by a Sparrow while still trying to feed but at least two more were seen in Sussex on Oct 31 and Nov 4.

Other Insects Several Hoverfly species have been active recently with both Helophilus pendulus and Syrphus ribesii seen in Emsworth in November but more unexpected was a Volucella zonaria seen in the Hastings area on Oct 27 and that report was accompanied by a sighting of a beetle called Oedemera femoralis which made me aware that the common 'Thigh Beetle' Oedemera nobilis is just one (the commonest) of the species in the genus Oedemera. Femoralis looks similar to nobilis in general shape, with swollen thighs (probably only in the male) but differs in being a dull brown colour where nobilis is green. Another personal discovery this week was of the name (Mesembrina meridiana) for a 'big black fly' that is fairly common at this time of year and which has (at least in some individuals) distinctive bright orange patches on the base of its wings - for a good photo and info try http://www.uksafari.com/noonflies.htm and for a good quote from a book on "Insects of the British Cow Dung Community" (there's a best seller title!) see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesembrina_meridiana which says .. " Adults are most often seen on cow dung, basking in open ground or visiting flowers to feed upon nectar. Eggs are laid in cow dung, the larvae are carnivorous, and feed on other fly larvae within the dung. The female lays up to five eggs in a lifetime, each one in a different pat, at two day intervals". Ladybirds were filling the air on warm days at the start of this current period as they flew in search of hibernation sites but I was also made aware of an orange coloured species which was seen by the Havant Widlife group when their regular Saturday outing on Nov 2 took them to the Head Down area east of the QE Country Park. Their Ladybird photo can be seen at http://familyfellows.com/0-0-0- x634-ladybird-HWG-02.11.13.jpg and my attempt to name it came up against the difficulty that there are three similar species show on the Identification Chart to be seen at http://www.ladybird- survey.org/downloads/Ladybird%20descriptions_Info%20pack_2006_v.1.3.pdf - my guess is that they saw a Cream-spot Ladybird for which one of the id features is a straight line of six spots running from side to side over the highest part of the beetle's wingcases (you can clearly see the three spots on the right hand side in their photo). This feature can be made out again in the photos at http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/cream-spot-ladybird and that page also says that the species over-winters in plant litter, bark crevices and Beech nuts and there should have been plenty of Beech nuts in Head Down plantation where it was seen.

Wild Flowers The mild weather has given me a tick list of at least 80 species in flower during the period since Oct 26 and I will mention a few of them which I might not have expected to see in a normal autumn. Stream Water Crowfoot was flowering in the Homewell Spring pool and Common Ramping Fumitory was just coming into flower on plants climbing the wire-mesh fence of the New Lane allotments where a fresh surge of Weasels Snout (Misopates orontium) was flowering. A fresh Sweet Violet flower was out in St Faith's churchyard on Nov 2 and late flowers were seen on garden escape Soapwort (Bouncing Bett) which has flowered regularly for several years on the roadside grass of Park Road North as the road slopes down from the rail bridge to the roundabout. In the Havant Cemetery on Nov 2 several plants originally sown as wildflower seed by the Council several years ago are still producing flowers of Red Campion, Musk Mallow and Spotted Deadnettle and over the cemetery wall a garden waste tip in the allotments had four unexpected fresh plants of Apple of Peru (Nicandra physalodes) complete with beautiful blue flowers. E.lsewhere Small Flowered Cranesbill was still in flower as was Common Storksbill, Red Clover and Black Medick. November usually brings the first flowers of fresh Dog's Mercury in Pook Lane and more than a dozen fresh young plants were seen there on Nov 4 though none yet in flower. Over on the South Moors shore I was surprised to find both Sea Campion and Sticky Groundsel flowering on Nov 8.

Fri 8 Nov Wildlife highlights for Oct 26 to Nov 6 (continued) Before continuing the summary of recent news from the internet, news of a walk I took this morning down the Langbrook Stream and across the Moors to Budds Farm, coming back along the shore and via Langstone Pond. The weather continues very mild and there was no rain until I was very nearly home and before I left home I noticed an almost springlike vivacity among birds in the garden - the Robin which has hardly come out of the bushes for some time was showing off his red breast from prominent perches, House Sparrows which have not been heard in the garden for an equal time(though still noisy in the shrub thickets in other gardens where they chat amongst themselves) were exploring the roadside front gardens, and a couple of Magpies which were hatched nearby were doing aerobatics over the garden and gymnastics on the lawn. Before reaching the Langbrook Stream I noticed ripples on the surface of the pond at Dolphin Court alongside Park Road South at the Solent Road junction and within a minute of watching a healthy Water Vole swam out of the bankside vegetation and headed up the 'dead end' channel going north parallel to the pavement I was on. I assume this Vole has been resident in the pond since the flurry sightings which started on Aug 29 and which produced memories of similar sightings there in the past and although I have not heard of any recent sightings there I have seen correspondence supporting my theory that there must be a long term resident population somewhere along the Langbrook Stream so there is reason to suppose that Water Voles in the Havant Borough area are not restricted to a borderline population based on Brook Meadow but are much more widespread and are probably increasing their numbers and extending their range - at least one personal sighting of one in Langstone Pond in the past supports this. Two other things which excited me when I got to the South Moors shore where my first sighting of a Common Gull for this winter, followed shortly after by seeing my first two Rock Pipits there. Earlier while crossing the Moors I had the slightly less welcome sight of twelve Canada Geese flying west in line abreast - at least they did not frighten off the local Kestrel which has hovering close to their path (nor a lone Yellow Dung Fly on a cow pat!). At Budds Farm there was nothing new but near the mouth of the Langbrook stream I was pleased to see Sea Campion still in flower, one of the 32 plants seen flowering today - the list also included the Yellow Flowered Strawberries beside the Langbrook. Two fresh fungi were a small troop of Clouded Agaric beside the stream and another of what looked like Shaggy Parasols coming up from the shingle close to the new bench at the Langbrook Stream mouth (presumably they were growing on timber which had been washed up on the shore and then buried in the shingle though they might be feeding on remnants of the decaying wood of the old bench). A garden plant just starting to flower is Fatsia japonica whose common names include Castor Oil Plant (if you don't know what I am talking about see http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=788) - in finding this reference I also learnt that the word 'Fatsia' is a corruption of the Japanese word for 'Eight' referring to the big glossy leaves which are split in approximately eight segments. One other garden plant which came to my attention today was the Butcher's Broom which has for years stood by the southern gatepost of the entrance to the West Mill at the end of Mill Lane close to the Langbrook stream - I usually check for flowers each time that I pass this gateway but today there i was - gone!

Birds (continued from yesterday's diary page) ... Yesterday we had reached the Sawbills so we now resume with Raptors. A couple of Rough Legged Buzzards have been reported, one over Havant and the other over Folkestone, but in the absence of confirmatory sightings I would prefer to suspend judgement on these 'easy to mis-identify' birds. A couple of late departers have been what seems to have been the last Hobby seen near Southampton on Oct 28 and the last Osprey flying out to sea at Budleigh Salterton in Devon on Nov 6. When I made my trawl through the internet the latest news from the Scillies was for Oct 30 and included a sighting of a Sora Crake (what I think of as a Sora Rail) on Oct 29 and a long staying Spotted Crake photographed on Oct 25 (see http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7430/10515858584_af6cdc7eca_c.jpg). Another bird which has spent some time at Hayle in Cornwall is a White-rumped Sandpiper (or rather three of them, an adult and two young) which have been around through the first week of November. In Southsea the Purple Sandpipers (three of them) arrived back at Southsea Castle on Nov 4 and on Nov 2 Dungeness reported the first Woodcock arrival (for that site) while nearby Rye Harbour had 72 Ruff present on Nov 5. Down in the Lymington area the Long-billed Dowitcher which has been at Pennington since Aug 2 (though not seen between Oct 17 and 30) is apparently still there. Its not often that four Grey Phalaropes are seen together but this has happened twice recently - once at Pendeen in Cornwall on Nov 3 and again at Brignogan in Brittany on Nov 4. Another unusually high total was of 43 Great Skuas at St Ives in Cornwall on Nov 3 while a count of 1091 Little Gulls at Le Clipon (French/Belgian border) on Nov 4 was many times more than elsewhere currently. An 'old faithful' which returned to Gosport for its 11th consecutive winter on Nov 3 is the Ring-billed Gull affectionately known as 'Waldo'. At nearby Stokes Bay a count of 65 Common Gulls on Oct 28 - three earlier reports of two of these birds had been made in Hampshire on Sep 22, Oct 7 and Oct 9 but John Norton commented that the flock of 65 was a notable, but late, influx - normally at least 80 would be present by mid-October. Another arrival of winter gulls in Hampshire was reported at the Blashford Lakes on Nov 4 when 10,000 Lesser Blackback were in the evening roost (no doubt the roost had been building for some time before this date). In Langstone Harbour it looks as if a flock of 10 Sandwich Terns have settled in for the winter (Black Point in Chichester Harbour had only 4 on Oct 28) but at Dungeness departing migrants are still passing through with 53 seen on Nov 1 and 32 on Nov 5. Christchurch Harbour has had more unusual tern - a Roseate - seeming to be intending to stay for the winter - it arrived on Oct 5 and was last seen on Nov 4 ... to be continued ...

Thu 7 Nov Wildlife highlights for Oct 26 to Nov 6 Animals and Fungi During a conservation work session at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on Sunday Nov 3 a rough ball of grasses woven together was found in some of the long grass being cleared and was probably the breeding nest of a Harvest Mouse - similar nests have been found here in previous years but as far as I know the mice have never been seen (not surprising as they are small and secretive and are most active around dawn and dusk). They construct two different types of nest, one for breeding in the summer which is likely to be a bit larger than a Tennis Ball and postioned up to a metre off the ground, suspended in long grass (including reed beds) or in a hedgerow, and one for use by single adults in the winter and this is likely to be on or below the ground, probably at the bottom of a hedge though it can be in a building. In a mild winter such as the current one breeding can continue into December. The distinctive features which separate Harvest Mouse nests from those of birds (Wren or Long-tailed Tit) are that they are round (bird nests are more like Rugby Balls than Footballs) and are made of grass blades which have been split into thin strips but remain joined at the base, while the breeding nests do not have an obvious opening (the mother pushes her way through the outer wall which closes up behind her, though when the nest is abandoned at the end of summer there will probably be an obvious hole). The winter nest is smaller (no more than 5cm in diameter), positioned on or near the ground and could be confused with nests of other small mammals. Harvest mice do not hibernate so the winter nests are not designed for long term use. An impressive cluster of fungi was found in Warblington Cemetery by Peter Raby recently and deserves the name of Spectacular Rustgill - I put a couple of photos of it in my Diary entry for Nov 4. A great deal more fungal interest can be found in Graeme Lyons blog - see his entries for Oct 30, 31 and Nov 3 at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/. A different aspect of fungi is their ability to generate luminesence and this is shown on the Rye Bay website by Alan Parker in his entry at http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/10/31/something-spooky-in-the- woodshed.html

Birds All three regular diver species are now in residence along the south coast and there has also been one sighting, on Oct 26, of a White-billed Diver off Bass Point which is the south east point of The Lizard penninsula. Another unexpected bird passing The Lizard on Nov 2 was a young Black-browed Albatross and this species may well have flown along our south coast recently as there was a previous report of one off the Norfolk Coast on Oct 27. Maybe this bird had been blown in from the Atlantic by our 'hurricane' which may also have had the effect of bringing more Petrels than usual - on Oct 28 there were 10 Storm Petrels in the Portland area and single Leach's Petrels have been seen this week at both Portland and Folkestone though there were up to 8 seen on the French/Belgian border with three more off the Netherlands and two off Brittany. Grebes are also more numerous with 2 Black-necked in the Broadmarsh area of Langstone Harbour, one Slavonian at Selsey, and Red-necked both off Selsey, in Chichester Harbour and in Portland Harbour. At least 11 Glossy Ibis are currently in this country, probably more, but they seem mobile and have not settled anywhere for the winter, and by Nov 4 the Poole Harbour flock of Spoonbills was up to 26. Brent Geese started to come ashore to feed on grass on Oct 28 when 61 were on the Southsea Cricket Field (maybe it was too stormy for them on the exposed shores that morning) and by Nov 5 a flock of 448 were on the Sultan Fields at Gosport. Nov 5 also saw a further wave of new arrivals with 1900 passing Dungeness that day. Shelduck numbers have also been swollen by new arrivals - by Oct 30 there were 14 off the Emsworth western shore but a clearer indication came from the north French coast with 206 at Pointe de Hoc and 242 at Ouistreham, both on Nov 6. Other new arrivals this week have been 3 Scaup at Abbotsbury in Dorset and a Lesser Scaup in Somerset plus a Long-tailed Duck and a Surf Scoter both at Portland before moving on west. Christchurch Harbour also had two Velvet Scoter calling in on their way west. More expected visitors have been Red-breasted Merganser seen at most coastal sites now but with peak counts of only 10 in the mouth of Langstone Harbour on Oct 28, 6 passing Titchfield Haven on Nov 5 when 29 were reported at Oustreham on the Normandie coast. Goosander have also been arriving from the north with 10 flying south west over Salehurst (north of Hastings in Sussex) on Nov 5 but so far no real arrival of Goldeneye. ... to be continued ...

Mon 4 Nov Fungi and flowers at Warblington and a very high tide This morning's glorious sunshine saw me at Warblington Cemetery looking for an impressive cluster of fungi which I had seen in a photo on Brian Fellow's website. My own photos (below) indicate the site of the fungi at the base of a fruit tree just south of the cemetery building though the fungi are not easily seen in that photo but come into their own in the close-ups showing the caps (with 15 cm ruler to show their size) and the underside of one taken from another cluster (so as not to spoil the show for others!). These show that the species is deservedly called the Spectacular Rustgill (Gymnopilus junonius) which is relatviely common at this time of year.

The cluster of fungi can just be seen at the base of the central tree (possibly a Pear?)

Close views of Gymnopilus junonius - the Spectacular Rustgill Before entering the cemetery I had seen an aged plant of Cow Parsley at the end of its second (autumn) flowering, and after leaving the cemetery I walked along the seawall towards Pook Lane, enjoying the sunshine glittering on the high tide. Coming to the end of the seawall where I expected to walk down a concrete ramp into the south end of Pook Lane I realised this was the highest tide I have ever seen in all the 46 years I have lived in Havant - the water covered the top of the concrete ramp and if I had walked down it the water would have been up to my chest when I reached the bottom. Refusing to admit defeat by the tide I managed to get through the barbed wire fence into the field east of Pook Lane and eventually into Pook Lane above the tide line where I found what I was looking for - the very first fresh young plants of Dogs Mercury which I find here each year but I was too early to see any sign of flowers on the plants (though they should be showing before the month is over!). One other unexpected sighting today was a late Common Darter dragonfly WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR OCT 28 - NOV 3 (WEEK 44 OF 2013) Sat 2 Nov November flowers A couple of local walks on Nov 1 and 2 gave me 58 wild plants in flower (though some were at their 'last gasp'). The ones of most interest yesterday included two species in St Faith's churchyard each showing a single fresh bud not yet open - one was Green Field Speedwell and the other Cleavers (Goosegrass). Also in the churchyard a single Sweet Violet had a single fully open flower. In Juniper Square the Yellow Flowered Strawberries were in flower and Small Flowered Cranesbill had one 'last gasp' flower. Today the New Lane allotments had four plants of Apple of Peru in fresh flower on a 'tip' heap adjacent to the Havant cemetery wall and also the first Common Ramping Fumitory flowers on plants climbing the New Lane fence with fresh flowers on Weasels Snout nearby. In the cemetery Musk Mallow, Red Campion and Burnet Saxifrage were all showing fresh flowers and later in my walk I came on freshly flowering plants of Annual Wall Rocket (plus two fresh flowers on an otherwise dead plant of Greater Mullein). Wed 30 Oct Around Havant, Langstone and Broadmarsh Yesterday we had wall to wall sunshine all day and I took a walk down the Langbrook stream to the South Moors, paused to check out the Budds Farm pools, then came home along the shore to Langstone where the highspot of the day was to see a flock of some 30 Golden Plover on the mud east of Langstone Pond. By mid-October sizable flocks of Golden Plover were to be seen in several places along the south coast from Rye Harbour (700 there on Oct 12), through Pagham Harbour (70 on Oct 15) and the Hamble River mouth (71 as early as Oct 8) down to Uppottery in Devon where 26 had been seen on Oct 1). More have arrived recently increasing the Rye Harbour flock to 1200 on Oct 25 but the small flock at Langstone on Oct 29 was the first that I know of in Chichester Harbour this autumn and hopefully we will see them again (either where they were today, well away from the shore about half way from Langstone Pond to Pook Lane or on the mud along the west side of the 'Northney saltings island'). Their appearance is determined by whether the tide is low in the morning as they are nocturnal foragers, getting their food at night from nearby fields and flying off at first light to find an area where they can catch up on their sleep without danger of predation or disturbance by the rising tide - as their presence at Uppottery in Devon shows they are equally happy to roost inland (in Sussex they can regularly be seen later in the winter on the old Thorney Island aerodrome or the large areas of Pagham Harbour that normally remain above the tide - as they do not get their food from the mud they are only seen on it when it is the safest and most convenient place to sleep). Other things seen on this walk were a single Red Admiral and a Comma and at least 29 flowering plants which included Yellow-flowered Strawberry by the Langbrook where I also saw a fresh plant of Sticky Groundsel and an older one of Perforate St John's Wort. Walking down the concrete casing of the disused sewage outflow pipe a single Butcher's Broom flower was seen among the small clump of Hawthorn trees and at the southern end of Southmoor Lane Storksbill and Pellitory of the Wall were still flowering. Today I got on my bike and headed for Bedhampton and Broadmarsh - the highspot came before I left Havant town and was the sound of both Great Tit and Dunnock song (before leaving home I was surprised to see a Dunnock visiting the seed feeder hanging above the lawn). Another welcome sight came when approaching the Farlington Marshes east entrance along the cycle way below the A27 - a couple of Gorse bushes in flower at last. Also alongside the cycleway Blue Fleabane was in flower and one Red Admiral was on the wing but a more unexpected wild flower for the time of year was one plant of Garlic Mustard carrying a much reduced flower head. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR OCT 21 - 27 (WEEK 43 OF 2013)

Sun 27 Oct

Review of latest news from the internet Before getting on to other people's news I have two items of personal news. The first concerns my claim to have found an unusual species of tree in Havant cemetery on Oct 14 - the tree was in fact a Common Walnut but I had not considered that species as I thought Walnuts never had the shining white bark of the tree in the cemetery. The second item concerns a Fern species which I discovered on the flint wall running along the footpath connecting South Street in Havant to Homewell along the southern side of St Faith's churchyard. I made this find just after completing this months entry for St Faith's churchyard on my Cemeteries Pages and I am not yet certain that I have identified the species correctly but I believe that several very young plants of Black Spleenwort fern have suddenly appeared on this old wall where an overflowing gutter pipe has watered the chalky mortar of the Flintstone wall. Nearby the wall has long had a good display of Polypody, Harts Tongue, Maidenhair Spleenwort and Wall Rue ferns but until now the only place I have found Black Spleenwort has been on the tower of the Chalton Village Church just south of the Q. E. Country Park and the distribution map for this species in the Hants Flora shows that, while it is common throughout most of Hampshire, there are no records for it in the south east of the county east of the Meon valley. It does seem, however to be spreading into the south east - last year Brian Fellows found it on the walls of two houses in central Emsworth and there have been three more reports of it in the wider Emsworth area. As the plants I found are too young to have developed any spore producing bodies under their leaves my only clues to their identity are the location, size and general look of the leaves and I am not at all certain that my guess is correct. Summary of Wildlife Highlights for Oct 16 - 25 Fungi Coming on to what I have seen on the internet and starting with Fungi I must point you to the rare and very colourful find of Cortinarius violaceus which Cliff Dean made on Oct 23 in the garden of his home at Pett on the Sussex shore of Rye Bay - for his photos and a link to a Daily Mail story of how three people very nearly died through eating mis-identified mushrooms see http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/10/23/cortinarius-violaceus.html. Another good tale of fungi found not far east of Goodwood House near Chichester comes from Graeme Lyons in his blog entry at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/earthstar- trek.html which has photos of Sessile Earthstars, Cucumber Caps, Dog Stinkhorns and White Hellvella (now called White Saddles). There is also a photo of a newly discovered Moss Species (Ditrichum pallidum). One further fungus which caught my attention was Phaeolus schweinitzii (see http://www.rxwildlife.info/storage/Phaeolus- schweinitzii.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1382098428009) which was found in the Peasmarsh area near Hastings by Gordon Jarvis and posted on the Rye Bay website. Several years ago this fungus could be found growing on a Pine Tree stump very close to the southern end of Langstone Bridge in grass on the west side of the road, opposite the Texaco garage. Another commoner fungus, the Stinkhorn, can also be seen on the RX website thanks to Alan Parkers photo of it at http://www.rxwildlife.info/storage/Stinkhorn%20Market%20Wood.jpg?__SQUARE SPACE_CACHEVERSION=1382425529735 Birds Slavonian Grebe arrived on Oct 19 (2 seen at Pointe de Hoc on the French/Belgian border with one at Weymouth on Oct 22). Since the first Black- necked were in Langstone Harbour on Oct 6 there has been another sighting of two in the harbour on Oct 20 after eleven were back at Middle Beach, Swanage, on Oct 19. Although not seen in Britain the first Cattle Egret for some time has been seen in the Netherlands on Oct 24. Also in the Netherlands the number of Great White Egrets seems to be growing fast with one 'flock' of 27 (in addtion to smaller numbers at 14 other sites) in the Netherlands on Oct 22. By Oct 18 RBA was reporting a UK total of at least 15 Glossy Ibis and one was seen on an Isle of Wight farm dungheap on Oct 20, may be moving on to be the one seen at Pagham north wall on Oct 24. Spoonbill also seem to have been flooding back into southern England with a flock of 28 at Arne on Oct 22. In addition to the large number of Dark bellied Brent now feeding fearlessly close to the shores of the Solent Harbours (not yet reported on land) three Pale Bellied birds were at Ferrybridge (Weymouth) by Oct 18 and two were in Chichester Harbour at Wittering on Oct 22 while two Brant were at Ferrybridge on Oct 8. The Red Breasted Goose which was initially seen in Langstone and Chichester Harbours quickly abandoned them and moved to the Lymington shore on Oct 13 and has remained there until Oct 23 at least. Late Garganey were in both Dorset and Devon on Oct 22 and one was in the Scillies on Oct 23. On Oct 19 a flock of 28 Scaup were seen on the Durham coast with 2 reaching Abbotsbury in Dorset that day and on Oct 25 a further young bird arrivied in Poole Harbour. Goldeneye should be here by now but I have only seen three or four reports of singles which may well have summered here - similarly with Merganser, of the ten reports I have logged eight were of singles and just two were of two birds though most of these reports seem to be of new arrivals. Of our summer visiting raptors it looks as if the last Honey Buzzard was seen at Sandwich Bay on Oct 14 and the last local Osprey was over Pagham Harbour on Oct 17 but one was still being seen in Cornwall on Oct 25. Similarly the last Hobby in Sussex was seen on Oct 18 while both Dorset and Devon had one later sighting (maybe the same bird) on Oct 25. A Spotted Crake which turned up in the Scillies on Oct 5 may still be there - one was still present on Oct 24 when another appeared at Arundel. Rye Harbour usually attracts early flocks of Golden Plover and this year there were 700 there by Oct 12 increasing to 1200 on Oct 25. More locally there were 85 at Newtown Harbour, IoW, on Oct 14 and 70 at Pagham Harbour on Oct 15. Even more close to home, at Black Point (Hayling Island), on Oct 17 Andy Johnson discovered a very rare Semipalmated Plover - the first seen in mainland Britain for 15 years and only the third known to have visted Britain - Scillies in 1978, Devon in 1998 and now Hampshire/Sussex in 2013 although others may have been mistaken for Ringed Plovers. For more information about the species and its normal behaviour see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semipalmated_Plover. On Oct 26 the current bird was still to be seen in the high tide roost at Black Point where Peter Raby photographed it on Oct 18 - see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x645-semipalmated-plover- PMR-18.10.13.jpg. A much more common shorebird that should soon be seen at Southsea Castle is Purple Sandpiper which is now starting to appear with one at Portland and 2 at Exmouth, both on Oct 20, then 2 at Pagham Harbour on Oct 21 and 2 at Shoreham on Oct 24. Another rarity that was still to be seen on the Lymington shore up to Oct 19 is Long Billed Dowitcher - it has been there since Aug 2 this year. Oct 11 saw the return to Nore Barn creek at Emsworth for the 10th consecutive winter of the 'tame' Spotted Redshank which has given many birders and photographers an excellent opportunity to watch it close up. For the dates of its previous winter visits see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/x- spotted-redshank.htm. For those not satisfied with the sight of just one or two Spotted Redshanks Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour remains the only place on the south coast where up to 14 can be seen - that was this year's peak count on Oct 7 and as this number was down to 12 on Oct 10 and has not been repeated I suspect that Brownsea is an 'arrival airport' for the speces from which the birds soon disperse. Another local regular winter visitor over the past ten years or so has been the Gosport Ring-billed Gull - last year it was first seen on Oct 21 but so far there has been no mention of it this autumn (though there was a one off report of one at Christchurch Harbour on Oct 4). One winter gull which has arrived on the south coast is an Iceland Gull seen at Hastings on Oct 16 but not reported again. Most Terns have now left other than the Sandwich Terns which regularly winter here - on Oct 17 there were still 12 of these in Langstone Harbour with 2 seen at the Oysterbds on Oct 18 and 7 at Black Pt on Oct 22. Also at Black Pt on Oct 22 was a single Common Tern which I assume to be a straggler, as probably was the single Roseate Tern seen intermittently at Christchurch Harbour from Oct 5 to 27. Also presumed stragglers were single Arctic Terns seen on the Hampshire coast on Oct 19, flying west off Worthing on Oct 20 and at Sandwich Bay on Oct 21. By Oct 25 there were 186 'Auk species' off the Netherlands and a few Razorbills and Guillemots are now to be seen along our south coast We have not yet seen significant Woodpigeon movements along the south coast but on Oct 19 some 35 sites in the Netherlands area reported unusual numbers with the highest count being 154600. On Oct 24 a Pallid Swift spent some time circling over Christchurch Harbour and three excellent photos of it appear in the entry for Oct 25 at http://chog.org.uk/. This seems to have been part of a movement bringing other birds of this species to Belgium, Norfolk and the Scillies between Oct 22 and 24 (I also suspect that birds reported as Swifts between Oct 19 and 25 over Ventnor, Yorkshire, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany may have been Pallid with the last Common Swifts having been in Yorkshire on Oct 5). A species which seems equally happy to be in England in winter or summer is Hoopoe and one was seen over Christchurch Harbour on Oct 25 (others were in Durham and Nottinghamshire on Oct 22 and 23). Wrynecks seem to have left mainland England after Oct 15 (when one was in Devon) but at least one was still in the Scillies on Oct 23. A Short-toed Lark which turned up at Portland on Oct 10 attacted the three Naval Amigos from the Portsmouth area to belatedly twitch it on Oct 18 but sadly it had been eaten by a Merlin on Oct 17 - if you want to read their account of the trip (which includes a photo of a Buzzard carrying off a Rat for its meal) see http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/2013/10/21/wood- lark-and-raven-portland-weekend/. Common Skylarks are now on the move (and the passage of migrants over sites where there are established residents brings the residents into song to defend their territories). This was demonstrated on Oct 17 by 12 resident birds at Alresford which were all in full song that day making their intentions clear though the intentions of the passage birds seem more confused - I assumed they were arriving from the continent and looking for somewhere to settle here and a report of 30 arriving from the sea and heading north over Hook/Warsash on Oct 6 supported this but by Oct 17 Portland reported Skylarks heading south - did they find nowhere to settle here?, were these English residents assuming the grass on the other side of the channel was greener?, or were they (as seems to be the case with most passerine migrants at this time of year) just flying into the wind regardless of the direction that it was taking them and betting on the chances that it would take them to where they would survive the winter (after all their predecessors must have survived using this strategy and the proportion of the population which ended up starving or drowning by this method must have been insufficient to cause the species to become extinct). Regardless of the strategy and tactics of migration Oct 19 saw 12,260 Skylarks moving over one Netherlands site on Oct 19 with smaller numbers over 47 other sites. Two birds which have crossed the Channel and reached their winter destination on the north Kent coast at Reculver on Oct 16 were the first two Shorelarks of this winter - another was reported at Spurn Pt on the north east coast on Oct 19. I thought we had seen the last Sand Martins on Oct 1 when just one was over the Blashford Lakes but four were seen at Newhaven as late as Oct 20. Swallows have been seen daily in diminishing numbers but they too gave us a surprise when Durlston reported 1040 over on Oct 24. House Martins wer still to be seen on Oct 24 after six were seen on the Isle of Wight on Oct 17. Tree Pipits ceased to be reported after Oct 13, but Gosport then had a late bird staying for a week up to Oct 22. Rock Pipits, on the other hand, are starting to appear along the south coast at places where they have not bred - on Oct 27 one was on the Warblington shore west of Emsworth, on Oct 20 one was on the west shore of Langstone Harbour and on Oct 24 one was seen at Shoreham. Wheatears were still to be seen at Dungeness, Shoreham and the New Forest on Oct 24 and I see one was on Beachy Head on Oct 27. Two Ring Ouzels were still at Durlston on Oct 25 while Fieldfares bagan to appear in force with 15,796 reported over Yorkshire on Oct 19 when another 3305 were in Gloucestershire One of the significant aspects of this autumn seems to be a catastrophic decline in Willow Warblers. Most south coast migration sites have been reporting Chiffchaffs by the hundred almost daily but during October I have only seen two reports of Willow Warbler - a single bird at Christchurch Harbour on Oct 5 and just one among 100 Chiffchaffs at Durlston on Oct 15. It seems this decline is not as sudden as I thought - see http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-of-month/willow- warbler which is a report issued in May 2012 on the BTO Bird Atlas results for the years 2007 - 11 and which shows that, while there was still a healthy population of Willow Warblers in Scotland, Wales and Ireland they had almost vanished as breeding birds from England by 2011. This report does not pin the blame for the decline on one particular factor (climate change probably plays a part but one factor which I would not have thought of is the increase in Deer numbers - the Deer eat the long grass in which the Willow Warblers nest on the ground and will also eat their eggs!) The second half of October has seen Great Grey Shrikes appear in Kent at Sandwich and Reculver, in Sussex on the western commons and as far west as Dorset and Devon - at least one was in the New Forest in the first half of the month and it or another was reported again on Oct 24. Back in Kent one seen at Reculver on Oct 14 caught and ate both a large Bee and a Goldcrest while it was being watched. After Oct 6 the only reports of Red Backed Shrikes came from the Scilles. Both Chaffinch and Brambling have been pouring into southern England recently - Dungeness reported 225 Chaffinch arriving on Oct 18 and Portland had 400 on Oct 24 but maximum site counts from the Netherlands show the presure is building - 50,740 at one site on Oct 19, 88,282 on Oct 22 and 128,620 on Oct 25. Figures for Bramblings are 24 arriving at Dungeness on Oct 14 (when there were already 4 at Pulborough Brooks) and 60 at Blackdown near Haslemere on Oct 19 with plenty of other reports of smaller numbers right across southern England to the Scillies. Both Lapland and Snow Buntings are now widespread with Hampshire's first Snow Bunting arriving at Hill Head near Titchfield Haven on Oct 26. To end with a couple of oddities there was a Yellow Crowned Bishop (maybe an escape?) on the Isle of Wight on Oct 15 but there seems to be no doubt about the bird headlining the RBA news on Oct 23 when their daily entry started ... "A Cape May Warbler found today on Unst, Shetland Isles is the second British (and second Western Palearctic) record - following a male in song at Paisley Glen, Clyde on 17th June 1977 - and is, without doubt, the highlight of the autumn in Britain".

Insects Dragonflies were still being reported up to Oct 26, the highlight being a pair of Vagrant Emperors at Bovey Tracey in Devon with the female still egglaying on Oct 26. For a good photo of this female see http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?s=08cc1c7462cbf89156f588a27633213 1&attachmentid=470033&d=1382806980. At the same site on the same day a single Southern Hawker was flying and in Norfolk on Oct 25 four Migrant Hawkers and one Willow Emerald were seen. In the New Forest on Oct 24 four Common Darters were still flying along with two Black Darters. The last report of a Common Hawker was from Cornwall on Oct 23. I suspect these will be the last dragonflies of the year but we may still be surprised!. Butterflies. The last species reported here is less of a surprise - a worn Speckled Wood on the Downs above Lancing on Oct 26, preceded by a fresh Comma in Sussex and several Painted Ladies at Portland on Oct 25. Clouded Yellows were still to be seen in Sussex, Hampshire and Devon on Oct 24 as were the fabulous Long-tailed Blues in Sussex (see http://www.sussex- butterflies.org.uk/species/butterfly/blue%20images/LTB1Polegate221013CM- Melhuish.jpg and http://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/species/butterfly/blue% 20images/LTB2Polegate221013CMMelhuish.jpg for two images of the same butterfly in a garden at Polegate near Eastbourne on Oct 23). Oct 24 also brought reports of two Peacocks, a fresh third brood Common Blue was flying in Gosport and several Red Admirals (including one in Emsworth and several at Prawle in Devon) One Small White was out on Oct 23 after Large White, Small Copper and Brimstone were last seen on Oct 18, and Green Veined White on Oct 17.

Moths. Here in Havant Barry Collins found an immigrant Convolvulus Hawkmoth in his moth trap on Oct 21 (for a photo of the species see http://www.sussexmothgroup.org.uk/speciesData.php?taxonNum=1972) and for a photo of a much smaller immigrant species still being seen at Folkestone on Oct 23 see http://www.sussexmothgroup.org.uk/speciesData.php?taxonNum=2054.

Other Insects. Brian Fellows took a photo on Oct 21 in Brook Meadow at Emsworth of an unusual insect which is thought to be one of those Fruit Flies which must have escaped from some scientist's lab - whatever it is you can see it at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x644-psyllid-bug- hogweed-bm-21.10.13.jpg and for another unusual insect, this time a spider with its eyes mounted on a vertical 'periscope', see Graeme Lyons blog at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/what-is-going- on-with-this-crazy-spider.html. Plants With the recent warmth and rain there has been no shortage of wild flowers having a late re-flowering but one species which, though not supposed to flower until February, is usually in full flower in Havant's central churchyard in November, is Sweet Violet and this year a single flower was out on Oct 17. Another plant seen in flower on Oct 17 for the first time since July was Common Gorse which should now go on flowering continuously until next July.. Looking through the complete list of wild species seen in flower during the second half of October I find that it runs to at least 70 species but perhaps the plant which excited me most, though not in flower, was Black Spleenwort fern which I found for the first time in Havant on Oct 19. Looking at the distribution map for this species in the Hants Flora it is common throughout Hampshire except for the south east corner - no records are shown west of the Meon valley but last year up to five sites for it were discovered in and around Emsworth and maybe my find is the start of more finds around Havant. My discovery was on an old flint wall running along the south side of St Faith's Church yard where Polypody, Harts Tongue, Wall Rue and Maidenhair Spleenwort are well established. I had checked this wall closely a few days before my find so it was a great surprise to find these small ferns where I had never noticed them before - it seems that a drip of water from a faulty gutter pipe had 'forced' their growth. One other find which deserves a mention is my discovery, not of a new plant but of the name of a planted shrub which has a very strong scent from its inconspicuous white flowers and which has puzzled me for years. The name which I discovered is Oleaster or Eleagnus ebbingei and you can see a photo at http://www.plantify.co.uk/Elaeagnus-ebbingei/plant-6303--photos-12035 - as with many garden plants there are many different variations available for sale but this photo shows the one which has been puzzling me for years and is the one with the powerful scent at this time of year (it's actually quite common).

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR OCT 14 - 20 (WEEK 42 OF 2013)

Sun 20 Oct Extraordinay Fungi, Ladybirds by the hundred, and my October Cemetery Visit details now online If you are interested in my latest visits to Havant and Warblington Cemeteries and to St Faith's Churchyard the details of what I found, illustrated with 43 photos, are now online. To see them go to http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm and use the latest links to the three pages. For me the most interesting find was of a tree species (possibly a Hickory from North America) seen in Havant Cemetery while at St Faith's the very first Sweet Violet was in flower and at Warblington Stubble Rosegill toadstools had started to appear. The unknown tree was young specimen with a trunk as white as a Silver Birch but with leaves similar to an Ash. At both Havant and Warblington insects were still active on Ivy flowers alongside Holly berries that were fully red. At home hundreds of Ladybirds were in the air heading for hibernation sites. In warm sunshine on Thursday I counted 105 on the wall of my house trying to find a way in via the windows which I had kept tight shut to deter them. After finishing work on the cemetery files last night my usual quick check for wildlife news on the internet found something on Graeme Lyons blog that I found really fascinating - photos of an extraordinary fungus which I had never heard of and which has only one known site in England despite having arrived here from Australia in 1829 (among plants sent to Kew). The English site is on Oxshott Heath in Surrey (around TQ 136618 east of the A3 road after it has crossed the M25 into the London area) and one or more of these fungi appear there in the autumn of most years. The scientific name of the fungus is Aseroe rubra but its common name is the Starfish Fungus and you will see how it gets that name when you see the photos which Graeme Lyons took on Oct 18 at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-thing.html. A slightly better photo can be seen at http://www.animalsandearth.com/en/photo/view/id/162325-starfish-fungus- aseroe-rubra-surrey-uk-november# This fungus is one of a group which attract flies to carry their spores by coating the spore bearing surface with 'muck' smelling strongly of rotting flesh or animal faeces which attracts the flies. The commonest member of this group in England is the Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) but to see more of the 77 known species go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallaceae. The Dog Stinkhorn (Caninus mutinus) can often be found in southern England (I once found many of them in Havant Thicket after the Fire Brigrade had poured many gallons of water on a bed of dry pine needles - the combination of the heat of the fire followed by an excess of water brought the fungi into action!). Two other more attractive species occasionally come up in this area - one is Clathrus ruber (Red Cage) - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clathrus_ruber - and the other is Clathrus archeri (Devil's Fingers) which you can see at http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/clathrus- archeri.php. For a suggestion that Clathrus ruber is being found in more northern parts of England as a result of global warming see http://blog.first- nature.com/?p=46. Thu 17 Oct First Sweet Violet and Common Gorse of the autumn So far this week I have made my monthly visits to Havant and Warblington Cemeteries, and to St Faith's Churchyard, for the purpose of creating the monthly wildlife posters which go up on the notice boards at the two cemeteries and on the Cemeteries page of this website where the St Faith's material also appears - hopefully you will be able to see my photos and comments on the web by Saturday but here is a brief preview plus other observations made so far this week. On Monday I went round the Havant Cemetery where, despite having been here many times, I spotted a tree which I have never noticed before and which is of a species I cannot name. It is only some 6 metres tall and has leaves somewhat similar to those of a Common Ash - three pairs of eliptical leaflets of increasing size (3, 10 and 12cm long) opposite each other along the leafstem with a single terminal leaflet (12 cm long and 8cm wide). Next year's leaf buds are deep brown (not black) and have the shape of a rifle bullet. From a distance the trunk of the tree looks as if it had been whitewashed but a closer look shows it is naturally white (like a Silver Birch) but has many thin vertical fissures. My Collins Field Guide to trees (by Alan Mitchell) offers only one candidate - a species of Hickory from North America (the Bitternut or Carya cordiformis) - but the description of that differs in several points so I am still needing help in naming it. Yesterday I went to Warblington where, in the Cemetery Extension, three Common Darters and two Speckled Woods were still active in the warm sunshine but at first glance the Wildflower area was devoid of colour though a close look found many flowers hidden among the dead stems of the larger plants. I also found three Stubble Rosegill fungi and, among the plants on the central Martin Memorial, there was a healthy specimen of Millet. In the main cemetery Holly Berries were fully red though Blackberries were still looking good to eat (in past years I came across a country saying that the Devil came round on Oct 1 and urinated on any remaining Blackberries). More fungi here were a good show of Sulphur Tuft and I noticed fresh Molehills - the first I have seen for a long time. This morning I went round St Faith's churchyard and found the very first Sweet Violet flower under the big Yew tree ten days earlier than the first last year, and this encouraged me to cycle down the Hayling Coastal Path where last year the Gorse had re-commenced flowering by Sep 3 but this year the hot and dry late summer has prevented Gorse from flowering until now - I found flowers on five bushes today so it probably started about a week ago. On Hayling Common Darters were still flying at three places and I also saw a larger dragonfly which might have been a Southern Hawker. From Northney Common I saw five Shelduck in the bay due south of Conigar Point (where new housing has replaced the old Holiday Camp). These seemed to comprise three adults and two juveniles and my guess is that they represent two families which have bred locally and are staying here, unlike the larger flocks we will see dropping in for one day visits as they make their way west over the next month or so. Tue 15 Oct Notes for the first half of October Today's sunshine brought a horde of Ladybirds on the wing flying in search of places to hibernate - I hope that not too many found their way into my house though they are able to enter through the smallest chink! The sunshine also encouraged me to take an afternoon cycle ride to Budds Farm and along the South Moors shore where at least 500 Brent were spread out all along the (low) tideline with a small flock of Wigeon at the mouth of the Langbrook stream but nothing much else (though I did disturb a lone Wheatear and met a birder who had earlier in the day seen an Osprey flying east off Langstone village, heading over Langstone bridge). When I reached the Langstone Pond shore I noticed a couple of Lapwing looking settled on the saltings (only the second time I have seen any here this autumn) Below I am posting a first part of my reflections on the data I have collected from the internet for the first half of October

Summary of Wildlife Highlights for Oct 1 - 15 Fungi October is always a good month for Fungi and the photo of a Fly Agaric which Bob Chapman took on Oct 6 (see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/amanita- muscaria.jpg?w=500&h=749) typifies the excitement of finding large and colourful fungi suddenly appearing in places where, a few days earlier, there was nothing to indicate their presence. Less brightly coloured was the Panthercap which Bob also photgraphed in the New Forest that day (see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/amanita- pantherina.jpg?w=500&h=374). A few days later Honey Fungus started to appear (see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/honey-fungus.jpg ) and the power with which fungi are able to force their fruiting bodies (the Toadstools) up to spread their spores can be seen at http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/shaggy-inkcap-growing- through-tarmac.jpg. Both Field and Horse Mushrooms could be found as early as Oct 4 when two less edible species were found at Durlston (what used to be called Jew's Ear, now called Jelly ear, and Dead Man's Fingers - still to be given a politically correct name - see a photo showing why that name is appropriate at http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/gallery/files/1/0/8/5/DeadMansFingers- Xylariapolymorpha_DSC_1976_m_w.jpg). On my own garden lawn both Parrot Waxcaps and Orange Mosscaps have pushed up. If you are interested in Fungi it is well worth seeing the BBC Countryfile programme broadcast on Oct 13 (and available on the IPlayer for the next seven days at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03dyrjy/Countryfile_Compilation_Wild_Har vest/) in which Roger Phillips (author of a very popular book on Fungi and of a great website - http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/ - on the subject) goes Truffle hunting (19mins 35secs into the programme). Dragonflies 13 species of Dragonfly were seen in October (see reports listed at http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/latest-sightings) and they include the rare migrant Vagrant Emperor (see http://www.british- dragonflies.org.uk/species/vagrant-emperor) of which two specimens turned up near Bovey Tracey in Devon on Oct 8 - the finder was ex-Hayling Islander John Walters and the insect was also seen by Ivan Lakin (late of Cosham, also in the Portsmouth area) - and another was seen in Cornwall on Oct 13. A more frequent migrant, the Red-veined Darter, was seen in Sussex at the start of the month, and the Willow Emerald, a recent arrival in this country which seems to have settled in, was reported as having at least 40 specimens present in Norfolk on Oct 6. Butterflies 19 species have been seen this month but the one which stands out as being a new breeding species for England is the Long-tailed Blue - it has been known as a rare migrant to Britain for many years but this year has been seen all along the south coast and has laid eggs here on Everlasting Pea plants. I haven't seen any reports of caterpillars but many of the recent sightings of the butterflies seem to have been of newly emerged specimens which hatched out locally. Clouded Yellows have been regularly seen in October but Painted Ladies have been scarce though there was a small influx on Oct 6 when one appeared in a Havant garden and two in the Meon Valley plus singles in Kent and Devon. Moths Two large and impressive species which have been seen this month are the Convolvulus Hawkmoth (several) and a single Death's Head Hawkmoth in Cornwall on Oct 9. Hummingbird Hawkmoths have maintained their lower than usual profile during this month though one was seen in Havant on Oct 6. A rare but colourful migrant which has been seen in Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset this month is the Crimson Speckled (see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=2054 for photo and details). A second rare migrant which has been seen in Hampshire is the Clifden Nonpareil (now called the Blue Underwing) which you can see at http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2451.php) Another 'pretty' moth currently on the wing is Merveille du Jour (see http://www.sussexmothgroup.org.uk/speciesData.php?taxonNum=2247). Birds All three regular Divers are now back - one Red-Throated was off Folkestone on Oct 1 and five were off north Kent on Oct 10, the first Black-throated was off the Netherlands on Oct 4 and the first Great Northern off Cornwall on Oct 11. Locally the first Great Crested Grebe was back on the sea off Emsworth on Oct 2 and four Black-Necked Grebe were in Langstone Harbour on Oct 6. I have not seen any reports of Storm Petrels east of the Scillies but there was a large movement of Leach's Petrels giving a count of 33 at Le Clipon (northern tip of France on the Belgian border) on Oct 10 with smaller numbers at seven other sites, and on Oct 11 four were seen on the north Kent coast. Brent Geese families have arrived with young earlier than usual and in numbers that look as if they have had a good breeding season. They also seem to have brought a 'wild' Red-Breasted Goose with them (presumed to be the bird that was with them in the Langstone Harbour area last winter) but it has not yet settled down to one area (it was first seen in Langstone Harbour on Sep 27 but on Sep 28 it was in Fareham Creek, Portsmouth Harbour, and on Oct 3 it was in Chichester Harbour off Thorney Island. On Oct 13 and 14 it (or another as one reporter thought this was a juvenile - first summer bird) was seen in the Lymington area. I suspect that its movements are a normal part of checking out the area to find the best place to settle down for the winter and will be influenced not only by its own view but by those of the Brent sub-flock to which it has attached itself. To add to the confusion several escapes or feral birds can be found in Britain. On the subject of other Brent species no Brant have been reported in the Solent Harbours and the only two reports of Brant so far have been of one in The Fleet near Weymouth on Oct 6 and 7 (there has also been one Pale-Bellied bird there since Oct 2). While still on the subject of wildfowl the first big flock of White-front Geese (2052 birds) were at one Netherlands site on Oct 1 with a few Pinkfoot and Tundra Bean Geese there on Oct 3. On Oct 5 fourteen Bewick's Swans arrived in the Netherlands and on Oct 11 a flock of 30 Whooper Swan were in Leicestershire. Locally the first substantial flock of 34 Shelduck were in Emsworth Harbour on Oct 5 and I expect these will go on moving west through the area for the next month or more. Both Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser should be here in strength by the end of October but so far I have only seen one report of a single female Goldeneye moving west through the east Solent into Southampton Water on Oct 4 with the first few Merganser being reported from Kent and Dorset on Oct 10 and 11. Perhaps more significant wildfowl news comes from Somerset where the area between Bath and Bridgwater (variously called the Somerset Levels or the Avalon Marshes) has been encouraging several rare species to settle and breed in Britain. For a map of the area see http://www.somersetwildlife.org/reserves.html but be aware that the RSPB, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the Hawk Owl Trust also have reserves and projects in the area - for example the RSPB are running a 5 year scheme which hopes to have released a 100 juvenile Common Cranes there by the end of 2015 and to have 20 pairs breeding by then (see http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/projects/details/212376-the-great-crane-project- ) Thanks to Brian Fellows' website (see his entry for Oct 5) I see that at least two pairs of Great White Egrets have bred on the Levels this year and that one pair of Little Bitterns have also nested there while an indeterminate number of normal Bitterns have probably nested to judge by the booming of at least 33 males. Marsh Harriers have raised thirteen young there this year. Another bit of birding excitment this month has been the arrival (presumably from Spain) of at least 19 Glossy Ibis. By Oct 2 RBA were saying that 14 were in the UK, spread across seven counties and by Oct 7 at least 19 birds were present - that is the highest total I have seen but the regular reports of them from different locations show that there may well be a lot more. Also possibly arriving from Spain were more Spoonbills than usual - where in the past a total of less than 20 were sometimes seen in Poole Harbour this month brought a report on Oct 3 of 32 in the Arne area plus another 7 at Lodmoor near Weymouth. Still with wetland birds I see that by Oct 1 there were already 300 Avocet at Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour with 29 already on the Exe estuary. More excitement has come from the arrival of four Shrike species (but sadly no further sightings of the Brown Shrike which was a new species for Hampshire when it touched down briefly at Chilling (near Hook/Warsash) on Sep 24). A Great Grey Shrike was back in the New Forest on Oct 10 and a Lessser Grey was in Kent on Oct 5 while one of several Red Backed was on the Isle of Wight from Oct 2 to 6. The fourth species for this month was an Isabelline/Daurian Shrike at Pendeen in Cornwall from Oct 4 to 7. The most exciting bird seen on Hayling Island was a Dusky Warbler which made a brief visit to the Sandy Point reserve on Oct 10 (a similar rarity - Radde's Warbler - was in the Andover area on Oct 13 after it or another Radde's was at Brighton on Oct 12 provoking an outburst of protest from Graeme Lyons at the bad behaviour of the birders intent on seeing it at any cost to the bird - see http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/kicked-in- southern-chestnuts.html On Oct 2 a Ring Ouzel was in Paulsgrove Chalkpit on Portsdown and there was another at Burley in the New Forest and two on the Isle of Wight - so far a fairly normal spread of sightings but hints of more to come were in sightings that same day of 7 at Beachy Head, 19 at Seaford and 22 at Folkestone. This was nothing compared to the reports on Oct 12 of 390 at Beachy Head, 205 at Hastings,150 at Seaford and 100 at Dungeness. I think these were not just birds which had bred in Britain and were moving south but most of them probably came from the continent and had been driven across south east England by the wind but the only evidence that I have for this is that on the previous day (Oct 11) Dungeness reported 80 arriving from the east. More local interest came from a sighting of 4 Black-necked Grebe in Langstone Harbour on Oct 6 (they did not stay) and of a Hoopoe at Chidham Point (across the Thorney Channel east of Thorney Island) on Oct 12 which was last seen flying towards Bosham. Of personal interest to me was Peter Raby's sighting on Oct 2 of a Bearded Tit in the reed bed on Warblington Farm - I spent 20 years on a BTO 'Common Bird Census' of the farm and never saw or heard of the species there though I was less surprised to hear that Peter had heard a Cetti's Warbler there - they were frequent visitors in several years. Finally for now I must mention the exceptional number of both Redwing and Fieldfare that have reached southern England by this early date. Redwing have been seen moving west throughout the month so far starting with 20 at Portland on Sep 30 and peaking with reports of 40,000 over Dungeness on Oct 10 and another 40,000 over Folkestone on Oct 11 when 5240 were seen passing over the Aldershot area in just under 4 hours. Numbers of Fieldfare have been much lower - on Oct 1 two were heard calling over Four Marks (near Alton in east Hants) and three were heard over Bishopstoke near Eastleigh. On Oct 7 106 flew north west over the Aldershot area in two hours but the highest count I have seen was of 1890 over Lancashire on Oct 11. As a tailpiece I must mention that while large numbers of Chiff Chaff have been reported heading south all along the coast the only report of Willow Warbler I have picked up so far this month is of just one bird seen at Christchurch Harbour on Oct 5 - where have they all got to? ... talking of single birds in the news I enjoyed Tony Tindale's account of how HMS Protector saved a lonely Goldcrest from a watery grave as the ship passed the Nab Tower on its way in to Portsmouth on a foggy Oct 1 - see http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/2013/10/01/goldcrest-off-the- isle-of-wight/ WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR OCT 7 - 13 (WEEK 41 OF 2013) Wed 9 Oct Western Conifer Seed Bug, Honey Fungus, Potato Vine and Green Sandpiper Yesterday I was very surprised to find what appeared to be a large Longhorn Beetle on the inside of the window in my computer room and, after getting it into a large beer glass, I tried in vain to identify it. I should have realised that it could not be a beetle as it did not have solid wing cases but the truth did not dawn on me until I took it outside and tried to put it on the trunk of an old and partially decaying apple tree (which I assumed would be the nearest to its normal habitat that I could offer) and instead of crawling onto the tree the insect spread broad wings, revealing a bright yellow topside to its body, and flew off strongly with a whirring noise. What I suddenly realised was that this was some sort of very large bug with a 2 cm long body, six long legs, a head projecting well forward from the body and long, waving antennae (see photo at http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mchkl0wlf41qzdfl4.jpg) The bright yellow of the body, only seen when the wings were spread, can be seen at http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3202204230_93e10ec0f5_o.jpg). This is a north American species which first arrved in Europe in 1999 with a shipload of timber unloaded in Italy and it quickly spread to neighbouring contries, reaching Britain in 2007 when it was found at Weymouth (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_conifer_seed_bug). It has now been found in at least 26 counties, mainly southern but including Nottinghamshire, Merseyside and West Yorkshire. Nymphs have been found in at least one site showing it is able to breed here. In Feb 2011 John Goodspeed found one in his bath at his home on Portsdown Hill so don't be surprised if you come across one, especially now as they attempt to enter houses to find winter hibernation sites (along with the Ladybirds trying to do the same but in very much reduced numbers this autumn) This morning I walked down the Langbrook stream from the Tesco store to the South Moors looking for signs of Water Voles. No luck there but I did find two fresh clumps of Honey Fungus (the first I have seen or heard of this autumn) as well as lots of flowering Water Forget-me-not and, in the garden of one of the houses in the 'Mallards' estate, a very attractive garden plant - the white flowered climber called the Potato Vine (Solanum album) which you can see at http://www.mailordertrees.co.uk/images/Solanum-Album1.jpg). On the stream just south the the Langstone Technology Park approach road was a Grey Wagtail and as I emerged onto the South Moors I am almost certain that I heard two short bursts of Dunnock song to add to the Robin and Wren song. On the Moors Tufted Forget-me not was flowering and beside the south end of Southmoor Lane several plants of Storksbill were in flower. Nothing unexpected on Budds Farm Pools but as I headed back along the shore and neared the mouth of the Langbrook I found around a dozen Brent on the tideline - it seems only a few years ago that they did not show up on this north shore of the harbour (with its busy stream of people walking the shore path) until December. Also in the stream mouth were some 20 Wigeon and 5 Shelduck. As I was watching these my attention was drawn to a familiar sharp call coming from the air above the Tamarisk trees on the Moors behind my back and I was in time to see a Green Sandpiper flying off - no doubt it will be back (I'm pretty sure that these birds visit the Tamarisk Pool, then the flooded area of the pony field north of Langstone Pond, the hidden Cress Beds - now a garden pond - on the east side of the Billy Trail immediately north of the A27, and possibly include the stretch of the Hermitage Stream just upstream of Barncroft Way as part of a daily circuit (though maybe they only move on to the next stop when disturbed at their present site). Mon 7 Oct Last night's bright light was the planet Venus Nothing special to report today but I have had time to confirm that the 'bright light in the sky' over Langstone Pond when counting Egrets last night was, despite its position in the sky, the planet Venus. I got this info from http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter- venus-saturn-mercury. This website also says that this evening (Oct 7) should be good for seeing the Draconid meteor shower and that the comet ISON should be near Mars in the predawn sky, having passed by that planet on Oct 1. For more about the meteor shower see http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything- you-need-to-know-draconid-meteor-shower and for Comet Ison see http://earthsky.org/space/big-sun-diving-comet-ison-might-be-spectacular-in-2013

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR SEP 30 - OCT 6 (WEEK 40 OF 2013)

Sun 6 Oct

Farlington Marshes and Langstone Egret roost With a forecast of daylong sunshine and light winds plus a midday spring tide I could not resist taking a walk round Farlington Marshes, driving to the Broadmarsh carpark and walking from there. By the time I got back to the car four hours later I had 35 birds, 8 insects, several fungi and 43 flowering wild plants plus both White and Black Rabbits on my list. The most unexpected bird sighting was of three or four Crows harrying something in their midst which turned out to be a Raven - earlier I had watched a high speed 'dog fight' between a Crow and a Kestrel and seen a similar encounter too high in the sky for me to identify the raptor which was distinctly smaller than the Crow (another Kestrel seemed unlikely at the height and it was not a Buzzard which I later saw at a similar height. Another unexpected sighting was of two different 'white geese' - not albino Canadas - accompanying two different flocks of Canada Geese - these were presumably the same two that were present last winter but I have not seen reports of them since the Canadas returned for this winter. Another species that I was glad to see back on the north shore of the harbour as well as on the marshes was Lapwing, and in 'the stream' between the reserve building and the lake was the subtantial flock of at least 20 Greenshank. One Skylark was attempting a little song but a persistent songster which has only started up this week was Great Tit. Among the plants which I was surprised to find in flower were both Common Centaury and Yellowwort but most surprising was the continued total absence of Common Gorse flowers - these always take a break from the all round the year flowering which is supposed to occur according to the rhyme "When Gorse is out of season, kissing is out of reason" but that break which starts in July has always ended before the end of August in my experience yet this year I have still not found any flower more than a month after they should have appeared (do not confuse the flowers of Dwarf Gorse which can always be seen in Havant Thicket during this late summer period). One new flower seen on the seawall which I did not identify precisely was some form of Mouse Ear. One expected sign of the times was the reddening of glasswort. Insects were represented by one fresh Small Copper and several Small White butterflies with many of both Migrant Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies plus one larger specimen which I think was a Southern Hawker and fungi seen included Field and huge Horse Mushrooms though my best find was on my garden lawn after I got home where the first Parrot Waxcaps had come up among the tiny Orange Mosscaps After tea I got on my bike and rode down to Langstone Pond to check on the Egret roost. When I arrived only 15 minutes before sunset at 18:32 I could not see a single Egret already in the trees and this meant that my count of those flying in (starting five minutes later) was more accurate than usual - the final total by 19:00 was 109, just two more than the 105 of my last full count on Sep 5. One major puzzle was a bright light in the sky to the south which remained visible from just after sunset until I left. Through my binoculars I could see a distinct complete disc which at first suggested an aircraft landing light heading towards me but it did not get closer during the 30 minutes or so that it was visible but moved almost imperceptibly west (perhaps by 5 degrees of arc in 30 minutes) This seemed to suggest it was a planet but the brightness, complete circular disc, and the low height (just above the tree tops) plus the position in the sky to the south (below the normal postion for planets) left it as an unsolved mystery. I suppose it could have been Venus but I would have expected that to be in the west following the path of the setting sun ..... Sat 5 Oct News for the past week Animals As well as lots of exciting birds the water round the Scillies on Sep 24 is reported to have held 200 Common Dolphins, 1 Minke Whale and 1 Blue Shark and I thought the number of Dolphins deserved a mention. At Durlston on Sep 29 'lots of activity' by Pipistrelle bats was remarked on and I suspect that all bats will now be feeding up prior to hibernation. On the Isle of Wight two Common Lizards were seen on Oct 3 and at Durlston a couple of uncommon Snail species were reported on Sep 29 - both were reported using 'private names' that seem to be unique to the Durlston Rangers, one was what is normally called the Round- mouthed Snail (Pomatias elegans) which they prefer to call the Trap-door snail, the other is normally called the Pointed Snail (Cochlicella acuta) but which they call the Maritime Snail despite the fact that one of its unique features is that is shuns contact with the sea and lives in dry, sandy places (albeit usually near the coast). In establishing the species that they were referring to I was amused to find an appeal for help for one person interested in keeping snails as pets and who wanted to stop her Round-mouthed Snails from burrowing into soil where she could not see them - they are a perverse species which wants to live on land while retaining the equivalent of gills (obtaining oxygen from water, not air) and in order to do this it retains water within its shell and has a very effective mechanism to prevent evaporation by (a) sealing the entrance to its shell, when not needing to exert its 'foot' in order to move around, with a very effective plug, and (b) preferring to come out and feed at night to avoid the heat of the sun, and burrowing into the soil during the day for the same reason - no wonder the snails wanted to burrow to avoid the heat and light of an indoor glass tank! Fungi These are really getting into their stride now having started to appear around Sep 12 when massive Giant Polypores began to appear in Havant. On Sep 24 Bob Chapman took a photo of a Brown Birch Bolete which you can see at http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/sponge-cap.jpg and on Sep 25 Jill Stanley visited Stansted and took photos of Magpie Inkcap (see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x662-magpie-ink-cap-stf-JS- 26.09.13.jpg) and Porcelain Fungus (see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x662-porcelain-fungus-stf- JS-26.09.13.jpg). When the Havant Wildlife Group were in Stansted Forest for their regular Saturday morning outing they encountered at least 23 species (including the two just mentioned and many Parasols - see http://www.flickr.com/photos/doncarey/5064883795/ - Beefsteak Fungus - see http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Fistulina_hepatica.JPG - Verdigris toadstool - see http://www.biopix.com/photos/sdl-stropharia-aeruginosa- 00005.jpg - Yellow Waxcap - see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/images/yellow_waxcap_350px.jpg - and the tiny Horsehair Fungus (named for its thin black stems) - see http://www.mushroomexpert.com/images/kuo/marasmius_rotula_03.jpg. (This review to be completed later)

Tue 1 Oct An attempt to replace my Weekly Summaries Before getting round to summarising old data I must mention current news. Here in Havant the new month began with strong Chiff Chaff song from the Billy Line trees at the end of my garden and later in the morning a few Swallows and one Pied Wagtail flew east over the garden. Much more exciting was the news from the Seaford area of Sussex where, yesterday (Sep 30), Kris Gillam discovered a Booted Warbler which, while elusive, allowed many birders (including Lee Evans) to confirm its identity. It remained until the evening but has not been reported so far today though there was some minor consolation in the presence of a Yellow- browed Warbler and four Ring Ouzels on nearby Beachy Head and a Brambling plus the first 11 migrant Song Thrushes were seen in the Seaford area (three Song Thrush migrants were at Farlington Marshes on Sep 30). For Matt Eade's account of the Warbler and his photos of it go to http://seafordbirding.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/booted-warbler-patch-tick- 30913.html My interest in collecting and summarising wildlife news has always been to gain a better understanding of as broad a view as possible of what is going on not just in 'my patch' or 'my county' but in the whole geographical region in which the birds, insects and other wild creatures that may pass through or settle in central southern England are to be found, bearing in mind that those wild creatures are not restricted by the consderations that govern our human movements. I am therefore interested in news of all wild creatures that live (for all or part of each year) in central southern England and its coastal waters, and in those moving towards the local area from places that are hundreds of miles away, and also in vagrants which have been found within that wider area and which, though showing no sign of moving to our local area, are as likely to do so as they were to have been seen where they were seen. To get this view of what's happening I regularly scan a list of 27 websites and extract details of any interesting observations, then sort them by species - for the month of September this has given me a list of 2,700 observations (mainly of birds but including insects, plants, animals and fungi). My problem then is how to summarise the interesting bits in a way that is short enough to be readable and timely enough to still be of interest when it eventually gets on the internet. I think the answer must be to summarise and publish the news for each week at a time, getting it online within the week following that in which the observations were made - this should allow me time to prepare the summary of the past week while still leaving me time to collect the news for the current week (and for all the other things that have to be fitted into daily life!). Further, the summary must be broken down into manageable chunks and not have to be done all in one day (as happened with the old 'Weekly Summary' system). I think the best way to start is by setting a time limit for each day and within that limit skimming off the 'top news' which I have not already covered from all the groups (Birds, Plants, Insects and Animals) rather than starting with one group and working through that in detail till the time is up - that would result in the last group that I deal with being very out of date when (and if) I get round to it. so let's give that scheme a try, starting with news from the last two weeks of September. Top bird news for Sept 16 - 30 Arrival of Winter Geese. The first migrant Brent seem to have been two seen in Christchurch Harbour on Sep 19, and I found five in Langstone Harbour on Sep 20, followed by four reports on Sep 21 (36 in Chichester Harbour, 5 in Portsmouth Hbr, 3 at Christchurch, and 100 passing Dungeness). The first large flocks were seen off the German coast on Sep 24 (3434 at one site and 1441 at another) with the first report of over 1000 in Langstone Harbour on Sep 26 and 2000 in the south of Chichester Harbour on Sep 27 when the first family groups were seen in both Langstone and Christchurch Harbours - this unusually early arrival of juveniles suggests a good breeding season. Sep 27 also saw the arrival of a single Red-Breasted Goose in Langstone Harbour, associating with Brent, and there is every reason to suppose this is the wild bird that was with them in Langstone Harbour up to Apr 5 this year and has presumably accompanied them to the breeding grounds and back, though a single presumed escapee was seen at Pulborough Brooks on Sep 16, two birds of unknown origin were at Rye Harbour on Sep 22 and another single was in Dumfries on Sep 27. Another top story has been of a small invasion of Glossy Ibis from Spain. One or more of these may have remained in the UK (in Pembrokeshire and Somerset) since last winter but this year's excitement began with the arrival of 9 at Thurlestone Bay in south Devon on Sep 23 with other singles arriving near Brixham and at two sites in Cornwall before a bigger flock of 15 arrived at the Cotswold Water Park on Sep 26. Next day a flock of 12 appeared in Lancashire with 5 singles elsewhere (including the Chew Valley and Blagdon Lake in Somerset. On Sep 28 there were 18 in Cumbria and no doubt these are not the last (Sep 29 brought one to Shropshire). Another large scale invasion has been of Yellow-browed Warblers, starting quietly enough with two in the Shetlands on Sep 10 but increasing to 58 in those islands on Sep 24 and to 490 in the north of the UK on Sep 26. On Sep 27 they started to appear in Cornwall and with sightings at both Sandwich Bay and Christchurch Harbour on Sep 30. A photo of one taken at West Bexington in Dorset on Sep 29 can be seen at http://4.bp.blogspot.com/- PofiND5CGwA/UkiqbtBe6zI/AAAAAAAAAkw/8ik1K0eiVXI/s400/Y-b+1.jpg A single bird attracting interest in Hampshire on Sep 20 was a Brown Shrike - a new species for the county - seen at the Chilling electricity sub-station (between Titchfield and Warsash) by several birders including Lee Evans and Steve Copsey of the 'Three Amigos'. You can see photos taken by Steve through Lee Evans telescope at http://www.surfbirds.com/community- blogs/amigo/2013/09/20/brown-shrike-at-hook-with-warsash/ - the finder of the bird was Bob Marchant. The last top story of bird news for today concerns the arrival of winter thrushes. A group of 5 Fieldfare were in the Netherlands as early as Sep 9 but the maximum count remains only 20 seen in Germany. [PS 3 Fieldfare were in the Itchen Valley near Bishopstoke on the morning of Oct 2 and 2 more were heard calling in the afternoon as they flew over Four Marks in East Hants] Redwings, however, have reached the UK with small numbers mainly heard almost daily since Sep 23 when the first report came from the Horsham area of Sussex. They have now been reported from North Kent, Cumbria, Hampshire (seven in the Aldershot area on Sep 27, 5 over Calshot on Sep 28 and 3 or more in the Alton area on Sep 30), and Dorset (2 over Portland on Sep 28 and 5 at Christchurch on Sep 30) plus Gloucestershire (7 on Sep 29). The most numerous winter thrush so far must be Song Thrushes from the continent though it is hard to find counts other than from one site in the Netherlands on Sep 30 where 2850 were reported. Another winter arrival from the continent which seems to be widespread is Robin with counts of up to 40 being reported from the Hastings area at the end of the month. On Sep 20 Portland reported that both incoming Robins and Dunnocks were "becoming conspicuous". Turning to insects the top story is undoubtedly the appearance of Long Tailed Blue butterflies in far greater numbers that usual. On past evidence the species is classed as a 'rare migrant' but this year early sightings were more frequent than usual and in late September there were several sightings of newly emerged butterflies changing the status to 'resident breeder' (that's my view and not official!). A recent photo of the underside of a newly emerged individual taken on Sep 27 in the Beeding area by the River Adur is at http://www.sussex- butterflies.org.uk/species/butterfly/blue%20images/LTBFem2BeedingCementWor ksHabitat270913NH.jpg and a top view taken at Bury by the River Arun on the same day is at http://www.sussex- butterflies.org.uk/species/butterfly/blue%20images/LTBBury270913PStevens.jpg. The plant attracting the original migrants to lay their eggs is the common Broad- leaved Everlasting Pea but I see the preferred foodplant is Bladder Senna which is uncommon here but we do have a good, long established, bush of it growing on the east side of The Kench on Hayling. Clouded Yellow butterflies were seen almost daily during the month with nearly all the reports in the last week of the month being at coastal sites but it is not clear if these were new arrivals heading north or 'return migrants' trying to head back south to warmer places before the first winter frosts - maybe we will see this in October. Immigrant moths pour into southern England during the summer but most of these are small and would not excite people who are not already moth enthusiasts but the last day of September brought one impressive migrant, a Clifden Nonpareil or Blue Underwing, to Bob Chapman's moth trap in the Brockenhurst area of the New Forest on Sep 30. Another large and impressive migrant moth, the Convolvulus Hawkmoth, started to arrive on Sep 20 when Tony Wilson found one in his Edburton Garden (at the north foot of the Sussex Downs) and at least two were at Portland on Oct 1. Among impressive spiders seen in September were at least three Wasp Spiders (Argiope bruennichi) in the Havant Cemetery, and several Araneus quadratus spiders in Emsworth, but the prize for colourful 'power dressing' among spiders goes to a species I had not previously heard of, Arianella displicata, found by Graeme Lyons on Iping Common in West Sussex on Sep 28 - for Graeme's photo of it see http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/check- out-abdomen-on-her.html. Among wild flowers seen this month is one which regularly grows in flower beds near the Taxi Rank at Havant Station and which I see was found on Sep 26 in the Great Salterns area of Portsmouth on soil freshly dug during the installation of a drain. The proper name of this plant is Datura stramonium but it has many English names including Thorn Apple and has many medical, hallucenogenic, and poisoning uses. For the Daily Mail's approach to its interest see http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1208694/Pensioner-finds-deadly-tropical- plant-famous-Harry-Potter-book-garden.html. For a more balanced view see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimsonweed An historical reference to the plant's hallucenogenic properties concerns a detachment of British soldiers sent to suppress an uprising in the Jamestown area of America in 1676, who cooked and ate a lot of this plant and were 'stoned out of their minds for 11 days' - an account of the incident written in 1705 says .. "The James-Town Weed (which resembles the Thorny Apple of Peru, and I take to be the Plant so call'd) is supposed to be one of the greatest Coolers in the World. This being an early Plant, was gather'd very young for a boil'd Salad, by some of the Soldiers sent thither, to pacify the Troubles of Bacon; and some of them eat plentifully of it, the Effect of which was a very pleasant Comedy; for they turn'd natural Fools upon it for several Days: One would blow up a Feather in the Air; another wou'd dart Straws at it with much Fury; and another stark naked was sitting up in a Corner, like a Monkey, grinning and making Mows at them; a Fourth would fondly kiss, and paw his Companions, and snear in their Faces, with a Countenance more antick, than any in a Dutch Droll. In this frantick Condition they were confined, lest they should in their Folly destroy themselves; though it was observed, that all their Actions were full of Innocence and good Nature. Indeed, they were not very cleanly; for they would have wallow'd in their own Excrements, if they had not been prevented. A Thousand such simple Tricks they play'd, and after Eleven Days, return'd to themselves again, not remembring any thing that had pass'd." So much for this first part of my review of recent wildlife news - more to follow. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR SEP 23 - 29 (WEEK 39 OF 2013)

Fri 27 Sep

Havant to Nore Barn via the Warblington shore My first note for this walk was of a couple of Swans flying over the harbour off Langstone pond as they come to the end of their summer moult, and as I moved east along the shore past the Warblington Farm fields I noticed an unusually large number of Rooks - at a rough estimate there were at least 40. These fields and the shore often have over 100 Crows which nowadays outnumber Rooks in most areas and there were well over 100 present today. Reaching the fresh water outflow from the Warblington central stream I found some 80 Wigeon present with a few Teal. Just after rounding Conigar Point I used the regular entrance from the shore into the arable field behind the point. The crop of Sweetcorn in this field had been recently harvested giving me a chance to see what wild flowers had grown since it had been harvested. The plant I was hoping for was the Dwarf Spurge which usually grows here (and in very few other places locally) and I was not disappointed. Other good finds here were the first Field Woundwort I have seen this year and some Green Field Speedwell with its small, deep blue, flowers - other good finds among the 21 wild flower species present were Field Madder, Black Bindweed and Field Pansy. Prettiest sight was a single Small Copper butterfly and the attractiveness of the seeds in this field to birds was shown by a flock of some 20 Linnets, another of half a dozen Greenfinch and a single Chaffinch while I enjoyed some of the ripe Blackberries in the hedge.. Among many Wood Pigeons in the next field north were at least two Stock Doves. Before leaving the field I was puzzled by several Common Wasps which seemed strangely attracted to the Tamarisk trees in the seaward hedge. Moving on towards Nore Barn I saw two Shelduck out on the saltings near Fowley Island and reaching the wood I walked up the path along its western end, then turned into the wood. At the point where I turned in I noticed some tiny white flowers growing on an umbellifer half hidden in brambles and they suggested the rare Corn Parsley so I took a sample home. Looking at them with a hand lens later I found the seed pods were covered in hooked hairs (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Torilis_japonica_frucht.jpeg) which, with the few leaves that I had, proved they were from Upright Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica) so not rare but out of season. Half way through the wood I wished I had brought my camera to record a magnificent large Tutsan bush, its leaves all fresh green and evey flower having now given way to a shining black berry (which reminds me that one of my finds in the Conigar Point field was of the first ripe black berries on Black Nightshade). Other plants re-flowering here were Wood Avens, Herb Robert, Self-heal and Chickweed with one example of Enchanters Nightshade. Emerging from the wood I found Brian Fellows by the outflow of the Maisemore Gardens stream from which the small flock of Swans seen here on my last visit had vanished. Brian told me that they were all back in Emsworth Harbour trying to get onto the Town Millpond but being repulsed by the male of the pair which had, against the odds, raised a healthy single cygnet in the 'Litter Nest' at the north end of the pond. This led to a discussion as to when this male might cease to defend his nest site - neither of us felt confident in predicting when this might be but I expressed the opinion that there was a distinct housing shortage for Swans - far more birds of breeding age than suitable nest sites - and that as Swans pair for life, and live a long time, any pair with a good nest site will defend it year round to ensure its availablity next spring. I have heard it said that there is an established hierarchy among the Swans in any area and that when the pair at the top of the hierarchy, having the best nest site, die then all the other pairs in the hierarchy move up one step in the 'housing ladder'. If this is true then it is understandable that the pair which have bred in the Millpond Litter Nest, and which can be presumed to be 'first time buyers', will be extra keen to maintain their place in the hierarchy, especially as the number of Swans which have in the past assembled in the Millpond must put extra pressure on the defenders of the lone nest site (though that site may well not exist next spring if the litter is washed away). Before we both headed for home Brian showed me a large toadstool he had just collected from the nearby Beacon Square site and this was a Brown Rollrim, one of the very few species whose identity is unmistakeable, unlike two species I collected on my walk and the Boletes which he had also found in Beacon Square. I have since seen his photos of them and think I can reject his suggestion that they are Brown Birch Boletes as those have tall stems and white pores - the photo shows short (hidden) stems and yellow pores. One thing which can often aid identification of this type of bolete is their re-action to being cut or bruised - almost instantly after bring cut the flesh and pores of some species turn colour from bright yellow to bright 'Quink Ink' blue, and pressure on the pores can result in similar dramatic changes. Just one other find on the way home which I must mention is of flowering Cow Parsley in two places on the roadside of Church Lane at Warblington where I have found this flowering unseasonly in past years. Tue 24 Sep More Fungi in Havant Cemetery A brief visit to Havant Cemetery today gave me three new toadstools for the season. First was a single, much nibbled (by what I know not) Giant Puffball. Second was a tiny goblet shaped toadstool of which there were at least a dozen examples growing among damp moss on a stone base - as far as I can make out these are probably called Omphalina sphagnicola. Third was another troop but of larger more traditionally shaped toadstools with caps around 4 cm across. My photo is not very well focussed but shows the upper and lower surfaces for the record. I think these are a poisonous species known in English as 'Poison Pie' (Hebeloma crustiliniforme).

The Giant Puffball

Omphalina sphagnicola

Poison Pie

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR SEP 16 - 22 (WEEK 38 OF 2013) Sun 22 Sep Fungi and Ferns in St Faith's Churchyard Yesterday I visited St Faith's churchyard in central Havant to complete the third of my monthly cemetery visits following those to Havant and Warblington public cemeteries. I provided a link to my finds in the Havant cemetery in my previous Diary entry and am now able to provide links to the Warblington (http://ralph- hollins.net/WARCEM.htm#W1809) and St Faiths (http://ralph- hollins.net/SFCEM.htm#F2109) pages. On the Warblington page you can see my photos of the first Puffball of the autumn, a Long Hoverfly (new to me but Brian Fellows found one on June 24 and his much better photo is at http://familyfellows.com/0-0-0-x733-long-hoverfly-rail- ws-24.06.13.jpg), and the first Field Mushrooms. On the St Faith's page are another new toadstool (Lepiota leucothites), a new for the site grass (Cockspur Grass or Echinochloa crus-gall), and another example of what I think is a Syrphus ribesii Hoverfly, and four species of Fern including a great show of Common Polypody. During the course of compiling the St Faith's page I was checking the origin of the Red Oak tree in the churchyard and was surprised to note that the index to Alan Mitchell's Collins Field Guide to trees lists 45 different species of Oak that can be found in Britain and northern Europe. Other miscellaneous bird news that some may have missed concerns the arrival of the migrant Brent Geese - following my sighting of 5 presumed migrants in Langstone Harbour on Sept 20 there were sightings of up to 5 in Portsmouth Harbour and at three places along the east Solent on Sep 21 and of 30 in Portsmouth Harbour on Sep 22. These had been preceded by 2 Brent in Christchurch Harbour on Sep 19 with another 3 there on Sep 21, and by 3 off the Netherlands coast on Sep 19. In view of this cluster of sightings between Sep 19 and 22 I find it hard to believe that Andy Johnson's sighting of one within Chichester Harbour on Sep 10 was not a summering bird though he did hear an Ortolan Bunting flying over Sandy Point at the mouth of the harbour on Sep 21. Also on Sep 21 Peter Gammage saw the first three southward bound Spotted Flycatchers to reach Hayling Island at Northney (reminding me of the days when local birders could count 42 of them in Hayling Park at this time of year (haven't checked the year). A mega sighting goes to Bob Marchant who found a passing Brown Shrike at Chilling near Hook/Warsash on Sep 20 - according to RBA this is a first for Hampshire (no further reports anywhere though there was a Lesser Grey Shrike in Suffolk on Sep 20). I am also slightly surprised that no one seems to have noticed the presumed young Trumpeter Swan which I saw and heard on the west shore of Hayling on Sep 20 - perhaps it flew back to its local 'home' when evening came on and it got hungry?

Fri 20 Sep Brent Geese back in Langstone Harbour with a young Trumpeter (?) Swan Earlier this week I have been busy visiting the Havant and Warblington Cemeteries and then preparing my monthly posters featuring the wildlife I saw there - the posters have been completed and are probably now on view of the notice boards at those two cemeteries but so far only the Havant Cemetery version is available online (go to ralph-hollins.net/HAVCEM.htm#H1609 to see the photos and text which feature Nostoc commune cyanobacteria (a slimy mass which I call Landweed for its similarity to Seaweed), Wasp Spiders and their 'Chinese Lantern' type egg sacs, a 'new to me' colourful shrub version of St John's Wort, and a Hoverfly called 'The Footballer'). When the Warblington poster is online you will find it has the first Field Mushrooms, a charming grave memorial featuring a very happy Gnome with a sign saying 'Welcome to my Garden', and a Common Wasp entering the mechanism of the grass mower duing the groundsman's lunch break in order to enjoy the heat. Today, with the sun shining and the highest tide of the month, I took time off to cycle down the Hayling Coastal Path to a point giving a good view of the south east corner of Langstone Harbour where, as I had hoped, five Brent Geese were on the water, far from the shore, convincing me they were early migrants rather than summering birds. This guess was supported by Andy Johnson's report of a single migrant Brent in Chichester Harbour near Black Point on Sep 10, three more off the Netherlands on Sep 19 when two more arrived in Christchurch Harbour. Much more unexpected than the Brent was a lone Swan cygnet cruising north along the west Hayling shore. I was surprised by its presence there but much more surprised when it started to 'sing' (well to make various noises including a repeated 'ooo-ooo' and a harsh ducklike 'quack'). Foolishly I did not get my camera out when it saw me and came out of the water towards me (indicating captive origin - perhaps expecting me to feed it!) so my only photo came when it had swum out from the shore again, but I did make various notes which I think indicate it was a Trumpeter Swan - first the noises, secondly the size (slightly larger than a Mute), and thirdly the long, all black bill forming a straight line from the crown of the head to the tip of the bill (like an Eider). The plumage was generally light brown but had white fringing to both primaries and secondaries (probably irrelevant and part of its normal moult into adult white). One other obvious feature was its long, very straight, neck and when it came out of the water my impression was that it was a more confident walker than a Mute Swan (they tend to sway from side to side and look down to see where they are going). My first guess was Whooper but after checking with the internet (see http://www.arkive.org/trumpeter-swan/cygnus-buccinator/video-00.html) my money is now on Trumpeter (though I notice that a family of cygnets in that video have brown bills where this one had a black bill - I think they were younger than this one).

A vague hint as to what the Mystery Swan looked like One thing that I was expecting was first flowers on Gorse but no luck there. Some of the things I did note were Chiff Chaff song as well as the now ubiquitous autumn Robin song, a lot of Swallows and a large flock of perhaps 40 Linnets on the West Lane fields, a single Sandwich Tern, at least 20 Great Crested Grebes and at least 500 Oystercatchers sitting out the high tide at the Oysterbeds. Lots of Small White and one Speckled Wood were flying as were two Migrant Hawkers and one male Common Darter.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR SEP 9 - 15 (WEEK 37 OF 2013)

Sat 14 Sep plus BIRD NEWS added on Sep 15

My take on the news for Sep 1 - 14 MISCELLANEOUS

In this section I am including those living things that do not fit neatly into the following sections on BIRDS, PLANTS and INSECTS but which most readers would never get round to reading about if I left them to the end! COMMON FROGS have suffered a catastrophic decline in numbers during the past thirty years or so, especialy in south east England, and you can find out more about this at http://www.froglife.org/disease/frog_mortality_project.htm and http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101007092718.htm. The second of these sources shows that while the virus that kills Frogs is still spreading to new areas of the UK some Frogs are showing resistance to the virus and on Sep 1 two healthy Frogs were found in an Emsworth garden - see the photo of one of them which was published on Brian Fellows website on Sep 1 at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x680-cm-frog-emsworth-JS- 01.09.13.jpg. Untimely hibernation by Sand Lizards and Bumblebees - see http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/9/8/the-vanishing.html. This short contribution to the Rye Bay website by Brian Banks was prompted by a new book on Bumblebees which describes how some young Bumblebee Queens burrow down into areas of friable earth (such as that in Molehills) long before weather conditions would force them into hibernation and do not emerge until next spring when they set up new nests. Brian finds a similar survival strategy in the life cycle of Sand Lizards and I commented on the same strategy being used by our butterfly species which overwinter as adults - it would be disastrous for the survival of those species if the adults emerging in August tried to maintain an active live until say October before hibernating - those that did not fall prey to birds or spiders before starting to hibernate would be in a pretty tatty state when they woke up next spring and Michael Blencowe (a Sussex butterfly expert) pointed out one aspect of 'staying awake' that would never have occurred to me - repeated feeding at this nectar-rich time of year can make a butterfly obese and too heavy to fly! Eels and Terrapins have both been in the news. On Sep 11 an Eel was photographed swimming in the River Ems, reminding us that it is at this time of year that some will be starting their journey to the Sargasso Sea where they breed. This and other basic facts about Eels can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/blueplanet/factfiles/fish/european_eel_bg.shtml but that document does not mention one of the most serious threats to the Eels' way of life in recent years - that is the obstructions which we humans have created in the traditional highways used by the Eels within the UK. Here are a couple of quotes from a hefty pdf on this subject... "During their downstream migration in river systems, silver eel have to pass many types of barriers such as large barrages, flood-control dams, flood gates, weirs, hydropower stations, sluices, pumping stations and fisheries. Such barriers are abundant in the many regulated European river systems and inland waters. These barriers are clear obstructions for downstream movement and cause a risk for the survival of the silver eel. They also have a clear impact on river flows with much diversity in flow patterns. For better understanding of the impact by barriers on downstream migration of silver eels and the development and implementation of technical and management measures, improved detailed knowledge of silver eel behaviour at barriers is necessary." and "As with many diadromous fish species, eels are threatened by the presence of dams and hydroelectric facilities in rivers. Turbine entrainment as well as impingement of silver-phase eels on the screens causes massive mortality of eels (Travade and Larinier 1992; Hadderingh and Bakker 1998). Up to 100% of the eels entering the intakes may be injured (Larinier and Travade 1998), depending on the type of turbine and flow conditions. The situation has become critical for eels and management solutions on a European level are urgently needed." When I was young, seventy or more years ago, I remember being fascinated by the discovery of Terrapins in a rural pond on the edge of Hastings and over the years I have often become aware of the impact on our native pond life from the habit of acquiring Terrapins as fishtank pets for young children and the subsequent need to dispose of them when they become big enough to bite off the young fingers trying to feed them. They could certainly be found in Portsmouth at Baffins Pond a few years back and a piece in the Portsmouth NEWS (see http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/local/swamp-where-only-the-terrapins-thrive-1- 1220958) suggests they and other unwanted alien plants and rubbish, are now de-oxygenating the water of Brockhurst Moat in Gosport, causing the fish in it to die. Start of the Fungi season One result of the very dry August was the absence of eye catching fungi which we sometimes find in woodland in the summer. This summer the first fungal growth to catch my eye did not appear until Sep 12 when Giant Polypore appeared on a tree stump in Wade Court Road here in Havant - see my photo at http://ralph-hollins.net/GPolypore1209.jpg. Since then all I have seen is a couple of patches of unidentified toadstool 'buds' and one cluster of large Agaricus type toadstools on a farm dungheap Politicians - a human species. Of all the blogs which I follow one which never fails to surprise and interest me is Cliff Dean's at http://rxbirdwalks.wordpress.com/. Two recent entries that seemed worth bringing to the attention of others concerned the polician's attitude to the natural world and a 'concrete man' lying in the shingle at Dungeness as if he were one of the unfortunate illegal immigrants who attempted to enter this country as stowaways in the undercarriage of a plane but who freeze to death en route and whose corpses fall to earth as the plane lowers its undercarriage prior to landing - to find out what Cliff has to say on this subject go to http://rxbirdwalks.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/chinese-anglers-and- a-concrete-corpse/ or see his photo at http://rxbirdwalks.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/p1130455.jpg (you won't discover the origin of this strange 'body' by reading what he has to say about it). More interesting to me was his view of the lip-service which politicians pay to 'being green' as illustrated by the current building of the new road across the Coombe Haven area behind Bexhill to improve road access along the south coast into Hastings. This project has been on the drawing board for many years and I remember being greatly surprised when John Prescott refused to give it government support in 2001 (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A259_road for recent history of the scheme) and the scheme was delayed for years until, as always seems to happen, 'economic' and 'political' factors came to outweigh the environmental reasons for which it was turned down in the first place. Cliff's blog entry on this subject is at http://rxbirdwalks.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/vandalised/ and brings you up to date with the approaching completion of the scheme and the destruction of the habitat (naturally those in favour of the scheme would point out all the effort put in to 'mitigate' any such damage) but what I find particularly telling is his incorporation into his argument of a video (http://youtu.be/8jhrTDHu3sk) which I strongly recommend anyone interested in 'green politics' to see. BIRDS The first sign of winter mode returning to our south coast centred bird world is that between Sep 10 and 12 all three regular Divers were back - a Black-throated off Cap Gris Nez on Sep 10, a Great Northern was heading south off Whitburn on the north east coast and two Red-throated were off the Netherlands on Sep 12. In the same three days Red-necked Grebe were seen - a juvenile was in the Cuckmere Valley on Sep 10, another was off Whitburn on Sep 11 and two were seen on Sep 12 (one at Filey and the other off the Netherlands. Around the same time the English Channel had a surge of Shearwaters - 81 Balearic were seen from Portland on Sep 7 with smaller numbers on most days from Sep 3 on. On Sep 11 Le Clipon (northernmost point on the French coast near the Belgian border) reported 61 Sooty Shearwater (with a total of 67 at four other sites, some of which were probably duplicates) and also 35 Leach's Petrel there that day. An interesting report of a Bittern at Radipole (Weymouth in Dorset) on Sep 5 suggests that they are now resident there as I think they are in the Kent Stour Valley and maybe also in Somerset. Bittern were being reported at Radipole up to at least July 9 this year. A couple more oddities in the west country were both reported on Sep 11 - one was a White Stork flying in off the sea and then inland near Exmouth and the other was a Glossy Ibis in Somerset. At Titchfield Haven a Black Swan appeared in Hill Head harbour on Sep 7 (perhaps coming from the IoW where an escapee which had sunk so low as to associate with Canada Geese was seen on Aug 28 and Sep 9). On the Isle of Wight two Great White Egrets seem to have been in the Brading area from Sep 2 to 8 with one still there on Sep 14. Here in Havant my count of the Little Egret night roost at Langstone Pond reached what was probably its peak for this year with 107 birds on Sep 5. The arrival of winter Geese has now started with a report of 25 Pink-foot at Spurn Point (mouth of the Humber, not far north of The Wash) on Sep 9 but of more interest to us on the south coast was a report of a single migrant (not summering) Dark-bellied Brent in Chichester harbour on Sep 10 followed by news of 6 reaching the Channel Isles on Sep 14. More expected on the Channel Isles were the first four Pale-bellied Brent on Sep 10 while in the same category as the renegade Black Swan, also associating with Canada Geese, were two escapee Red-Breasted Geese seen at Pulborough Brooks on Sep 6. Maybe of interest John Clark reports an apparent diminution of the feral Egyptian Goose population on the Hants/Berks border - he could only find 61 there on Sep 8. I don't think the missing birds have flown south to the Hampshire Avon Valley here 18 were seen at Blashford on Sep 12 as I see that last year there were 31 at the Avon Causeway on Oct 14. All the expected species of winter duck are now with us - flocks of Wigeon passed the 100 mark with 134 on the Avon Floods at Keyhaven near Lymington on Sep 8 (and 102 at Farlington Marshes on Sep 10) and there were 140 Gadwall (with 400 Teal and 60 Shoveler) at Rye Harbour on Sep 10 with 40 Pintail in Pagham Harbour on Sep 7. Surprisingly the lowest counts seem to be of Tufted Duck and Pochard (though I have seen one of the latter on the Havant Budds Farm Pools on Sep 11). Looking at the raptor reports I could find little unexpected (though I was amused by the Osprey which decided to perch on a lamp-post at the Winchester Park and Ride carpark to eat its fish supper). Sussex had an early Merlin with one coming in off the sea at Beachy Head on Aug 27 with another on the Downs above Worthing on Sep 1 but Dorset started seeing them back from Sep 2 when one was at Ferrybridge (Weymouth) Spotted Crakes have been seen at at least three English sites - on Sep 9 RBA reported them at four un-named sites, on Sep 10 there was one in Berkshire and on Sep 11 one at Oare Marshes in north Kent (which had been there since Sep 9) was caught on camera and you can see it at http://www.kentos.org.uk/Oare/images/SpottedCrake110913TR1a_000.JPG. At Portland the first Corncrake to appear on the south coast this autumn was seen and what may have been the same bird was there in Sep 12. Also in Dorset the stream of Avocet moving west for winter had brought 100 of them to Brownsea in Poole Harbour by Sep 9 but I have not heard of any yet having reached the Exe estuary. Among the many waders now moving south I have only seen two reports of single Dotterel - one in Yorkshire on Sep 10 and one in the Netherlands on Sep 12, and only one of an American Golden Plover at Sennen in Cornwall on Sep 11 while the build up of our Golden Plover had already brought 180 to Rye Harbour by Sep 10 (and one loner was among the Grey Plover at Farlington Marshes on Sep 8. 100 Lapwing were also at Rye Harbour on Sep 10 but they have not yet started to return generally to the south coast though Grey Plover, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit are now plentiful and small numbers of Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot and Sanderling have been seen, There have been several reports of single Semi- Palmated Sandpiper from Dorset, Hants, Cornwall and Dungeness and Little Stint have been seen at eight sites between Sandwich Bay and Portland (with a couple of Temminck's somewhere in the UK on Sep 10). Other rarities have been White- rumped Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper in Cornwall and Pectoral Sandpiper at both Pagham and Rye Harbour. Most impressive have been the numerous reports of juvenile Curlew Sandpiper from at least 11 sites between Abbotsbury in Dorset and Oare Marshes in north Kent, the highest count was 20 at Oare on Sep 10 and Keyhaven had 14 on Sep 8 but the Ferry Pool at Pagham had 12 on Sep 12 and the Warblington shore of Chichester Harbour had 11 on Sep 5. The first Purple Sandpiper was seen at Shoreham Harbour on Sep 6 followed by one at Penzance on Sep 8 and one at Dungeness on Sep 9 and all before the first two were reported in the Netherlands on Sep 11. The first returning Ruff (a female) was seen in Pagham Harbour on Sep 3 and Pennington (Lymington) had the only sighting of a Long-billed Dowitcher for September on Sep 9 (probably the bird that was regularly seen there last month from Aug 2 to 23). Plenty of Spotted Redshank have been seen throughout the month starting with 5 at Brownsea in Poole Harbour on Sep 2 with 10 there on Sep 10 and at least one was on the Warblington shore of Chichester Harbour on both Sep 3 and 5, raising the annual question of where the bird that is to be seen daily at Nore Barn (only half a mile from the Warblington site) from early October until the next March each winter, is to be found in September. One rarity for which we have photographic evidence for its location on Sep 10 is the Greater Yellowlegs which was at Reculver on the north Kent coast - you can seen the photo at http://www.kentos.org.uk/Reculver/images/gryell0913aluckhurstcontribute.jpg. The final bird to get a mention in this group is the single Red-necked Phalarope which was in the Netherlands on Sep 9 - the only Phalarope in the news this month No shortage of Skuas this month with 26 Poms passing Cap Gris Nez on Sep 10 (and maybe 45 others at 7 other continental sites that day). That day also brought 461 Arctic, 138 Great, and 11 Long-tailed Skuas all seen at Cap Gris Nez among many others moving through the Channel that day. Two Gull species to attract my attention have been Lesser Blackback with news of 1200 roosting at the Eversley pits on the Hants/Berks border on Sep 8 and Med Gull with a count of 650 at Brownwich (nr Titchfield Haven) on Sep 7. A smaller count of 150 Common Gulls at Rye Harbour on Sep 10 shows that these are starting to return to the south coast. What was probably the final surge of departing Terns brought counts of 1920 Common and 1410 Sandwich both at Gatteville in northern France on Sep 12. The last Black Tern I am aware of was seen at the mouth of Southampton Water on Sep 14 but I will not be surprised if more turn up. I haven't heard of a Turtle Dove since Sep10 in north Kent and no Cuckoos in England since Sep 7 but a late Nightjar was at Christchurch Harbour on Sep 12 and a stray Swift heading south over Hayling Island on the evening of Sep 5 was also the latest I know of in England. Sep 12 was also the last date I currently have for both Wryneck and Yellow Wagtail. I think a few Robins have already arrived from the continent and are boosting the current swell of autumn song everywhere and on Sep 14 I did wonder if a family group of Blackbirds that suddenly appeared in my garden had come across the Channel - I'm pretty sure that the House Sparrows that have also just resumed chirping in neighbour's gardens have not been further than a few miles away, enjoying autumn fruits and grain in local farm fields. The regular species among our departing summer passerine migrants will still be passing for several weeks and a Ring Ouzel at Durlston on Sep 6 was I think the first of its species to be seen leaving us while a mention of 3 Song Thrushes being unusual at one Netherlands site on Sep 12 probably marked the first stirring of these birds to move to winter quarters. Another first stirring in search of winter quarters was seen at Christchurch Harbour on Sep 7 in the shape of a Goldcrest (a Firecrest was also moving at Durlston on Sep 12 while at Farlington Marshes Sep 12 brought the first report of Bearded Tits 'high flying' as they attempt to see what lies beyond the reed bed that has been their whole world for several months (or indeed their whole life to date) - this generally means that they are about to undertake an amazingly adventurous flight into the unkown in search of a new and better 'world'. A single Red-backed Shrike was sitting on a downland hedgerow just behind Rottingdean in the Brighton area from Sep 2 to 9, perhaps held there by a local supply of large and juicy Great Green Bush-crickets (as I remember happening in the Fort Nelson carpark on Portsdown some years ago). A couple of other unexpected migrants have been two Tree Sparrows which paid a fleeting visit to Portland on Sep 11 and a lone Lapland Bunting which RBA reported as 'somewhere in England' that same day. On Sep 5 Portland reported 4 Ortolan Buntings and a species that has been surprisingly absent from recent reports has been Reed Bunting - just two reports this month of six at Brownwich (nr Titchfield Haven) on Sep 8 and of 5 at Sandwich on Sep 12.

Thu 12 Sep A walk to Nore Barn gives me the first open Ivy flowers Before setting out to seek my own 'finds' I saw on the iternet that Andy Johnson had seen the first migrant Brent Goose arrive in Chichester Harbour as early as Tuesday (Sep 10), the same day that the first four Pale Bellied Brent reached Jersey (presumably coming via our west coast route). With some summering Brent assumed to be already in Chichester Harbour, and with just one bird arriving on its own with no previous sightings en route, I would have had difficulty in believing this was a migrant had the observer been someone less experienced than Andy but in support of his sighting I see that last year the first two reports were both of single birds (one seen in the Netherlands on Sep 10 and another seen on the north Kent coast on Sep 15 and maybe the same single flying west past Selsey Bill on Sep 16) Last years first flocks were one of 21 birds on the French Normandie shore on Sep 15 and a flock of 15 which I saw fly on Sep 17 into the same part of Chichester Harbour (near Black Point) as the current sighting where they joined 3 presumed summering birds that were already on the water. Returning to today's walk my first find came in the carparking area for Warblington Church where my first sight of Black Nightshade came with a plant growing against the farm wall which looked as if it had been out for several days. Better than this as I was walking through the 'green tunnel' footpath between the old and new Warblington Cemeteries I was confronted with my first open flowers on Ivy.

First ivy flowers of the autumn

Black Nightshade flowering at Warblington Farm Moving on into the large field east of the central stream I found it had been harvested and a large number of birds were enjoying the spilt grain - 30 or more Collared Doves and at least 100 mixed Crows, Rooks and Woodpigeons. I had already seen at least a dozen Collared Doves at the Farm and suspect there will be the usual large night roost of them there and in the old Cemetery. Also noted in this harvested field were the first arable weeds that will flourish there now the light can get to the soil - at present the only thing of interest was a lot of fresh growth of Sun Spurge. At Nore Barn the tide was high and the number of Swans on the water had risen marginally from the 26 seen there last Saturday to 29 which included two adults and a single cygnet (the family from the Town Millpond nest?) but I found nothing else of interest until I turned north up the footpath leading to Selangor Avenue where the Great Horsetails were still looking fresh and I noted at least one equalled my height of around 6ft 4ins. Nearing the north end of the path I noticed a good growth of large Agaricus type toadstools (possibly Yellow Stainers) on the dung heap behind the pony stables east of the path and in the Warblington Farm field on the west side it was clear that the Chichester Archeologists had been digging on the Roman Villa site as they did last year (if anyone is interested in this the only document I can find is a http://cdas.info/PDF/Call%20for%20volunteers%202013%20-%20Warblington.pdf which says the current dig is taking place between Sep 9 and 21) On the way home into Havant I continued to add currently flowering plants - the most surprising was perhaps Stone Parsley but at the Emsworth Wayside underpass site I found the Burnet Saxifrage still flowering and another fresh growth of Sun Spurge. Just before reaching Meadowlands road in Havant and just after passing a big tree heavily laden with Sweet Chestnuts I passed a roadside tree stump which has hosted Giant Polypore fungi for several years and this year has at least 19 separate growths, reminding me that on the way out today I had taken a photo of the two growths which I found yesterday beside Wade Court Road so I have included a shot of that.

Giant Polypore beside Wade Court Road in Havant Wed 11 Sep (Link to previous day’s entry) Budds Farm, South Moor shore and Langstone Pond I got on my bike early this morning to see what ducks might be back on the Budds Farm Pools and was rewarded with a single Pochard, a few Shoveler and some 60 Coot plus the expected Mallard, Gadwall, and Dabchick plus a couple of Tufted Duck and a single Moorhen. The Swan pair were together at the west end of the pools but there was no sign of their cygnets until I was about to leave when all five came steaming along in a line from the far east end where they had been feeding under cover - an indication of family break up. The few Swallows overhead were outnumbered by House and Sand Martins. Reaching the South Moor shore I was impressed by a low flying flock of at least 200 Starlings - a normal autumn build-up here - and was excited by a brief glimpse of at least 20 Yellow Wagtails flying up from and then disappearing back into the long grass of the playing field. Nothing special on the shore at low tide, mainly Oystercatchers, large gulls and the odd Curlew plus bait diggers, though there was colour in fresh Tamarisk flowers and in both Golden and Rock Samphire. Riding on along the shore I could find no Slender Hare's Ear and no sign of migrants on or round the bushes though there was a colourful show of Sea Aster opposite the end of Mill Lane (and the unusual sight of a single bullock in the small field south of Mill Lane). As I was preparing to negotiate the kissing gate with my bike a Buzzard flew off over the moor from the trees above me and on reaching the other side of the bridge a Kestrel shot overhead while I was talking to a 'mature couple' who were attempting a round the harbour trip on electric bikes whose heavy batteries would make the job of negotiating the kissing gate very difficult! At the entrance to the West Mill I found the first Butcher's Broom flowers of the autumn, giving me the same pleasure in the return of colour as I have had this week from the first flowers of Shepherd's Purse and Field Speedwell after the summer drought. Nothing special a Langstone pond but as I rode past the pony fields north of Wade Court the Woodpecker-like 'looping' flight of a medium sized brown over the grass and into the distant trees persauded me that it was a Mistle Thrush, hopefully back in residence and ready to sing in the forecast autumn gale next weekend. North of the A27, on a large tree stump opposite Elm Road, was a magnificent growth of fresh Giant Polypore (if you're not familiar with this fungus see http://moblog.net/media/n/o/r/northerncowboy/meripilus-giganteus.jpg - sadly the photo cannot give you the strong musty smell that you get if you break a bit off!) Tue 10 Sep A sunny morning in Havant Thicket I have't visited Havant Thicket since July 25 when Dwarf Gorse was just starting to flower but there were no flowers on Devils Bit Scabious. Today both were in full flower (and it will not be long before Common Gorse resumes flowering) and I also found the less common Lesser Skullcap which I thought might be over by now. Photos of all three below...

Dwarf Gorse in fresh flower alongside Common Gorse; closer view of Dwarf Gorse; and close view of Common Gorse seeds

Cluster of Devils Bit Scabious; closer view of Devils Bit Scabious with Bumble Bee; and Alder Buckthorn berries

Lesser Skullcap site in a dry streamlet; and close-ups of the only two plants with flowers Devils Bit Scabious is not uncommon locally, as are Field Scabious and Small Scabious, but this week I learnt that they have a cultivated relative which is adding itself to our list of 'garden escape' flowers which you may come across in the not too distant future. It is not strictly a Scabious (its proper name is Cephalaria gigantea) but it is commonly called 'Yellow Scabious' or 'Giant Scabious' and it came to my attention via the Hants Butterfly Conservation website entry for Sep 6 in which Gary Palmer reports finding caterpillars of the Bright-line Brown-eye moth on the leaves of this plant when cutting down some dead plants. To see what the plant looks like in flower see http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/166.shtml and to see the caterpillar go to http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/php/upload/8583- image-1.jpg. The Alder Buckthorn is a fairly common shrub in Havant Thicket and this accounts for the large numbers of Brimstone butterflies seen here in the early spring as its leaves (along with those of Purging Buckthorn) are what the caterpillars of this species feed on. Both the Scabious and the Dwarf Gorse were flowerng close to the junction of the path running west from the carpark along the north side of the Gipsies Plain with the track running north at the eastern edge of the tall Corsican (or Black) Pine plantation through which I made my way to the channel of the streamlet (currently waterless) which originates in the Long Wood area and creates a noticeable dip in the 'Yellow Brick Road' before continuing south through the Pine Plantation and out across the western edge of the Gipsies Plain. The main site for the Skullcap is in this stream where gaps in the trees north of the Pine Plantation allow sunlight to reach the stream and this is where I took my photos though the species can be found in other damp areas of the Thicket - to find the plants here you have to leave the paths through the wood and follow the stream as best you can. Coming out of the trees on to the 'Yellow Brick Road' (the main vehicle track running west from the entrance off the Horndean Road nearly opposite Castle Road) I continued walking west all the way to the peripheral track round the Thicket, then turned south to follow the eastern side of Bells Copse area until I came to the track leading back east across the centre of the grass plain (called Deer Slaughter Plain on this west side of the Long Avenue coming north from the Leigh Park Gardens Lake). Finally I continued across the centre of the Gipsies Plain where a mass of Swallows was chasing insects across the grassland, 'ringing their bicycle bells' as they did so. Totting up my list when back at the car I found 38 flowering plants, 14 Bird species including my first Stonechats of the autumn as well as a Buzzard, a Kestrel, several Wheatears and Meadow Pipits, the odd Nuthatch and Jay plus many Chiff Chaffs (two of the singing). At least two Robins were also singing - they are definitely into autumn mode now. Also seen were five butterfly species - Small Heath, Common Blue, Small Whites, Speckled Woods and Meadow Browns. Towards the end of the walk I found a large crowd of cattle gathered in the shade of the trees half way across the Gipsies Plain where open gates allowed some to spill out on to the pathway - the one which had come out furthest, and past which I had to squeeze in a narrow section of the track, looked a size bigger than the others and as I neared it it turned to come towards me to get back with the others - at this point I noticed that it not only had very long straight horns growing sideways from its head but also had the full accoutrements of a bull - luckily it was completely docile!

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR SEP 2 - 8 (WEEK 36 OF 2013)

Thu 5 Sep

A fine evening for counting Egrets This evening the conditions were perfect for counting Egrets coming to roost at Langstone Pond with the tide low, the weather fine and the wind light. This is also the time of year when the roost is likely to be at its maximum with the regular residents increased by this year's juveniles and those dispersing from breeding area elsewhere and looking for somewhere where there is less competition for food, roosting and breeding (and for Egrets that generally means moving north.) I arrived at the pond at 19:00 with sunset scheduled for 19:42 and as I was attempting to count those already present several new arrivals flew in gving me a best estimate of the starting population as 26 before I took up my watch on the seawall beside the fence of the pony field just north of the pond (this gives the best chance of seeing the birds flying in from any direction - they usually come in quite high and 'whiffle down' in an almost vertical dive but there is always a chance that some sneak in 'under the radar' and are missed from my count). By the time I left at 20:05 my count was 107 and that will probably by the highest count for the year The most unexpected other bird seen was a single Swift heading south east towards Hayling unlike a small cloud of around 40 Swallows that were present for most of the time I was there. Another slight surprise was the arrival of 10 Magpies seemingly intending to share the roost trees with the Egrets (the same number also arrived just before sunset on my last count visit)). Out in the harbour I several times heard the calls of Greenshank and once heard a single Yellow Wagtail flying south. On my way to the pond I heard one Robin singing an evening song from one of the Wade Court Road gardens (they still have not become regular autumn songsters but maybe the coming rain will change that). Earlier in the day, in addition to the ubiquitous white butterflies I had one Red Admiral and one Volucella zonaria hoverfly on a garden Buddleia Mon 2 Sep A good morning on Portsdown and a recent flurry of Water Vole sightings in Havant A 'Red Sky at Sunset' yesterday gave the 'Shepherd's/Naturalist's Delight' which it predicted for this morning and persuaded me to take a walk on Portsdown above Paulsgrove. As Sep 1 was the scheduled date for the end of the closure of the road via the New Lane Lane Level Crossing I chose that route and found the road re-open and the junction with the road that will serve the new housing on the Warblington School playing fields was ready for use (though continuation of the road into the playing fields area and the building of new houses is yet to start). On the hill I stopped in the first layby beside James Callaghan Drive where I paused to admire the sunlit view south west over Portmouth Harbour (looking its best with the tide high) and on over the Solent as far as Hurst Castle near the western tip of the Isle of Wight (the full length of the Island's silhouette from Bembridge to the Needles could be seen). No specific landmarks could be made out in the New Forest but the single tall chimney of Fawley Power Station and the huddle of smaller chimneys at the Oil Refinery (normally the limit of visibility from Portsdown) were today objects in the middle distance. My target was to get my first sight of the Autumn Ladies Tresses which have probably been out for at least a week though there was no sign of them when I was last here on Aug 12 but today I was successful and found 19 spikes as well as several flowering plants of Bastard Toadflax. In total I noted 38 plant species in flower, including lots of Harebells and Eyebright, but only one bird species (Magpies) in the hour an a quarter that I was walking on the hill. I did slightly better with butterflies see many Small Whites, Meadow Browns, and Common Blues and a few remaining Chalkhill Blues. Last Thursday (Aug 29) a photo appeared in the local press (Portsmouth NEWS) of a Water Vole which the caption said had been taken in the stream running close beside the TESCO store in Havant, on the west side of Park Road South, after the photographer had been tipped off by someone else who had also seen Water Voles there (maybe a day or so earlier). Although the photo was of a single Vole both people claimed to have seen at least two there. Next day (Aug 30) I had an email from a friend who had also seen two Voles that morning, this time in the pond on the east side of Park Road (opposite the Solent Road junction) and he reminded me that he had seen voles there on 29 July 2011 and that he had heard of a sighting last year along the section of the stream (which comes from the Homewell Spring) running through the Langstone Gate office block grounds to join the main stream (called the Lavant River or the Langbrook Stream by different people) which continues south under the A27 to reach the harbour along the eastern edge of the South Moor. To complete the current observations I cycled down there on Sunday evening (Aug 31) and immediately saw one Vole sitting openly at the edge of the pond munching the leaves of the Yellow Iris plants which grow there. This sudden flurry of independent sightings leaves no doubt that there are at least two Water Voles currently present in that area and that they are easily seen by people on the look-out for them. The other evidence indicates that similar summer sightings have occurred at this site in each of the past two years. Further evidence comes from the BBC TV programme 'The Burrowers' which was by chance broadcast on Friday evening (Aug 30) and which confirms something I was already aware of, that a female Water Vole can give birth to up to five litters, each with an average of 5 young, each year and where such successful breeding occurs the young of each litter are 'shown the door' by their mother before she gives birth to the next litter and Google tells me that these homeless youngsters can travel several miles, not necessarily along water courses but overland where necessary, looking for suitable habitat in which to establish a home of their own. A final snippet of local information is that there have been one or two other sightings in recent years in Langstone Mill Pond (which is fed by the Lymbourne Stream along which Voles could travel as far north as the Lymbourne Spring (near the Havant East Street bridge over the old Hayling Billy rail line). Similarly there is a possible Water Vole highway along the Langbrook/Lavant stream north from Langstone Harbour to Havant, and this section has a year round flow of water from the Homewell Spring and some other minor springs in the West Street/Union Road area (near Havant Fire Station) but the Lavant River which can be traced along currently dry concrete channels along the south of Havant Park and through tunnels under North Street and under the railway just east of the station before it emerges to run north through West Leigh and to follow the railway to Rowlands Castle, then take an independent course through Finchdean to its source just north of Idsworth Chapel, is not likely to attract Water Voles for that part of the year when the voles are breeding. It is my conclusion from all this that the Voles seen in Havant at this time of year are not resident here but are wanderers from some as yet unknown birthplace (most likely on the banks of the Langbrook Stream) but I would welcome any further information about breeding places or about the highways that bring these animals to Havant, seemingly each summer.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR AUG 26 - SEP 1 (WEEK 35 OF 2013) Thu 29 Aug News for Aug 26 - 29 BIRDS Grebes to Geese The early Black-necked Grebe seen at Hook (Warsash) on Aug 24 was still there on Aug 28 when the first Red-Necked Grebe for England this autumn was on the Yorkshire coast (no further news of the one seen in the Netherlands on Aug 24). Little Egret numbers continue to rise all along the south coast and by Aug 26 there were at least 100 at Rye Harbour but my interest was caught by a photo taken there by Barry Yates showing a couple of things that I had not previously noticed - one concerns the inside of the beak (not only is it bright red in colour but the 'gape' is wide enough to swallow large fish) the other is the foot colour - even when a young bird has acquired the black bill and legs of an adult it seems its feet can be distinctly greener than the yellow of a full adult - see http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/8/26/get-off-my-land.html. Grey Herons were also in the news as migrants. I know that those which spend the breeding season in high latitudes where the water becomes frozen in the winter are forced to adopt a migratory life style, and also that young birds fledging from regular English Heronries have to disperse at this time of year but I was surprised to see that on Aug 27 four Herons were seen to fly out to sea from Christchurch Harbour while another two flew in off the sea, suggesting that is regular cross channel passage as well as coastal and inland movement of our birds. Also on Aug 27 what was almost certainly a White Stork was seen to fly high over Petworth House in Sussex - probably an off-course bird leaving the breeding area on the near continent from which at least 62 had been seen starting to move onAug 23. To end this group a Glossy Ibis was reported in Somerset on Aug 27 and a single summering Brent Goose was seen in Langstone Harbour on Aug 26, presumably now over its summer moult and feeling the urge to migrate which is no doubt already starting the genuine migrants on their journey - last year the very first passed Dungeness on their way west on Sep 13 and the first were seen to arrive in Chichester Harbour on Sep 17. Returning wildfowl On Aug 27 Trektellen reported 24 Shelduck on the Normandie coast of France and I take this as the first sign of them returning from their moult. Definitely now back with us are Wigeon with counts at Farlington Marshes of 15 on Aug 27 and 37 on Aug 29 plus other reports from Dorset (the first 8 at Abbotsbury on Aug 25) and the Isle of Wight (three at Newtown on Aug 27). Plenty of Teal are now back and reports of Pintail include 20 at Abbotsbury on Aug 25, 6 at Christchurch on Aug 26 and 4 at Farlington Marshes on Aug 29. One slightly puzzling report was of 13 Goosander flying up river at Christchurch on Aug 25 - presumably local breeding birds returning from a day trip to the seaside. Raptors Although the chances of seeing a Honey Buzzard on its way south over southern England are low (just one over Dungeness on Aug 26 is the only report this week) Trektellen reminds us of the large numbers which move south over eastern Europe each autumn (20,478 seen in Georgia on Aug 27 increasing to 22,519 on Aug 28) while recent history tells us that a relatively minor change to normal weather patterns can divert the flow of these birds across the North Sea bringing dramatic numbers over south eastern England. My search for the year in which this last happened led me to a Daily Telegraph article published on 16 Sep 2008 which gives Sept 2000 as the date of the really impressive diversion of the birds over England and records the mini-repeat in 2008 as bringing 300 reports from 26 counties. Turning to the Sussex Bird Report for 2000 I read ... "the enormous influx in late September and early October, when almost 500 birds were recorded in Sussex alone, including 105 on 29 Sept, 156 on 30 Sept and 66 on 1 Oct." Will it happen again this year? While still on the subject of Honey Buzzards I was surprised to find that there are a lot more breeding in Britain than the odd half-dozen in the New Forest - this year (2013) 75 adults are reported to have fledged 27 young at up to 50 nest sites all in Northumberland (see http://nickrossiter.org.uk/hbweb/). From other vague references it would seem that there are also good numbers in Wales and Scotland as well as several other English counties. The one raptor that we can all see and enjoy along the south coast currently is Osprey. Barry Collins saw his first for this autumn over Pilsey Sands (Thorney Island) on Aug 24 but since then Langstone Harbour seems to have had the most frequent reports with up to three birds present in Aug 28 though you can expect to see one right along the coast from Beachy Head to Portland. Less easy to spot was an early arriving Merlin which flew north over Beachy Head on Aug 27. Waders On Aug 24 Bob Chapman found 265 Grey Plover, 258 Black-tailed Godwit, 52 Greenshank and 5 Common Sandpiper roosting in the Farlington Marshes Lake to leave no doubt that autumn passage is in full swing. On Aug 25 there were 4 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Little Stint on the Lymington shore. In the absence of any 'rare' waders the last few days seem to have brought the peak of the Black Tern passage with 124 passing Dungeness on Aug 25 and another 67 along the Normandie coast on Aug 27 when Dungeness had just 12. Departing summer visitors Swifts are still trickling over at the rate of two or three a day and there was still one Cuckoo in the New Forest on Aug 27 though Aug 26 brought the latest report of the Hoopoe that has been around SZ2998 since Aug 14. I have seen 18 reports of Wryneck in the south between Aug 25 and 28 but on Aug 26 RBA had 57 reports of them UK wide. Aug 27 was a good day for hirundines with counts at Beachy Head of 600 Swallows, 250 Sand Martins but only 10 House Martins (Bursledon had 50). Tree Pipits were up to 75 on Aug 27 while Yellow Wagtails hit a peak of 200 at Portland on Aug 28 (with a couple of White Wagtails - the first of these for the autumn had only been seen two days earlier). Not seen at Portland, but recorded somewhere in the UK on Aug 26, were two Bluethroats (no record of the colour of their spots!). The Whinchat count at Beachy Head was up to 25 on Aug 27, with 10 at Portland on Aug 28 and 17 at Farlington Marshes on Aug 29. Wheatears were up to 150 at Portland on Aug 28 but a more interesting report from Portland was of the first Ring Ouzel of the autumn there on Aug 27 while even more interesting to me was a report of 8 Fieldfares going south, calling, over the Andover area on Aug 26 (three days after the first had been reported in the Netherlands) - this is probably the place to include the first report of another species that is likely to become a numerous winter visitor although it does breed here -this is the Siskin of which Christchurch Harbour had its first of autumn on Aug 28. Another unlikely bird was tentatively reported at Climping on the West Sussex coast when it should have been heading from Afghanistan to India - if the id was correct this was a Sykes Warbler (classed as one of the Hippolais Warblers until recently - now called Iduna rama). One member of the Hippolais Warbler group that has been allowed to retain its taxonomical inheritance is the Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) of which RBA reported 22 in the UK on Aug 26 and if you want to hear its rich and varied song go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0378xcd/Tweet_of_the_Day_Icterine_War bler/. Two other high scoring current migrants at Beachy Head on Aug 27 were Common Whitethroat (100) and Willow Warbler(60) while further west on the Sussex Downs that day there were more than 20 Spotted Flycatchers. On Aug 26 RBA had UK wide reports of 16 Red Backed Shrikes but I don't recall hearing of any currently on the south coast.

BUTTERFLIES Perhaps the most interesting news was of the emergence of the autumn brood of Adonis Blue at Durlston on Aug 28 though this will not be news to Sussex butterfly hunters - on Aug 27 there were hundreds on Malling Down near Lewes and on Aug 25 there were at least 20 near Small Dole - the first seem to have been at Mill Hill, Shoreham on Aug 13 which is more in keeping with the expected mid-August date. Clouded Yellows show no sign of diminishing - in fact of the 13 reports I have picked up for the period Aug 26 to 28 the highest count of 17 came from Pulborough Brooks on Aug 28. To get an idea of what can be seen in the way of butterflies at the moment here is what Ashley Whitlock saw on Ramsdean Down (north slopes of Butser Hill) on Aug 26:- Meadow Brown 1000, Common Blue 100, Large White 100, Smll White 100, Small Tortoiseshell 52, Small Heath 50, Peacock 6, Gatekeeper 5, Dark Green Fritillary 4, Small Copper 3, and singles of Silver Washed Fritillary, Silver Spotted Skipper, Small Skipper, Red Admiral and Comma. Also seen on Aug 26, but in the New Milton area, was a single Small Tortoiseshell found in a bird box where I am pretty sure it was hoping to spend the winter in hibernation - if it was that supports my contention that these newly emerged butterflies which are intended to get next year's generation of to a good start go into hibernation just as soon as they have had a decent feed and found a suitable place to spend the winter - to carry on flying around until the autumn frosts start would greatly prejudice their chances of fulfilling their appointed role.

MOTHS Here are links to some impressive species now on the wing. First, photographed by Ashley Whitlock in Portsmouth on Aug 26, is the August Thorn to be seen at http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/php/upload/8459-image-1.jpg. Also by Ashley Whitlock is the Old Lady which has a wingspan of around 7cm - see http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/php/upload/8459-image-2.jpg and the Garden Tiger - see http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/php/upload/8459- image-3.jpg. Taken at Durlston on Aug 25 was this photo of a Canary Shouldered Thorn - see http://durlston.co.uk/images/canary%20shouldered%20thorn-sb.jpg and from Rye Harbour comes a photo of the Dusky Thorn - see http://www.rxwildlife.info/storage/Dusky%20Thorn%20BM%201024x903.jpg?__S QUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1377506338953. One other moth that must be mentioned on account of it choosing to come to Havant on Aug 24 to feed on Honeysuckle (but not in my garden!) is the Hummingbird Hawkmoth whose numbers remain well below expectation this summer.

AND FINALLY ... Miscellaneous observations during the past week include the finding of three Wasp Spiders (Argiope bruennichi) in the long grass of the Havant Cemetery which I visited on Wednesday to see if the Conservation Volunteers had cleared that grass during their visit scheduled for Tuesday (they had cleared the URC section but had left the St Faith's section where the spiders are) and I see from the internet that the St Faith's section is to be strimmed on Sept 24th so I hope that the spiders will have laid their eggs well before that date, giving the spiderlings a chance to hatch and disperse before they are 'blitzed' - if not maybe we can negotiate a small 'no strim' zone around them. Another good insect observation was the appearance of a Volucella inanis hoverfly on my garden Buddleia at the end of the week - I only saw it because a Red Admiral (the first I have seen for some time) happened to land beside it (for a photo of this impressive hoverfly see http://www.wildguideuk.com/diptera_pages/hoverflies/volucellini/volucella_inanis_ female.html). One of these insects arrived in Brook Meadow at Emsworth on Aug 3 this year and it was followed there by a related species, Volucella zonaria, which turned up next day - for Brian Fellows photo of this one, which has broader black bands and a browner - not pure yellow, abdomen, see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x696-hoverfly-v.zonaria-bm- 04.08.13.jpg. Volucella is a large genus and there is a third species which I usually see at least once each summer - unlike the other two which are usually seen settled on flowers this third species, Volucella pellucens, likes to hover a foot or so above my head in shady woodland and can be identified by its large size and broad white band around its midriff contrasting with black head and tail sections - see http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds2/insectinfocusvolucellapellucens.htm All three species are migratory and probably reach us from the continent. At dusk on Aug 29 I was indoors by a window overlooking the garden when a Fox appeared on the lawn heading for a small plastic tub which I keep topped up with water for the bird. After taking a drink (other sources of water in the Billy Trail passing our garden must have dried up) I was amused to see that she revealed she was a Vixen by urinating (apparently into the water) before leaving. As I have often heard people say that a Fox leaves a strong scent behind, but I have never detected it , I went out and sniffed round the water tub but could smell nothing. In my diary entry for Aug 19 I mentioned that, while counting Egrets arriving to roost at Langstone Pond at dusk, I heard a Robin giving its first burst of autumn song and since then I have been expecting to hear them restart their regular song everywhere but so far all I have heard is two Robins singing against each other as I cycled up the Billy Trail a week later (evening of Aug 26, and one very brief early morning burst from close to my garden on Aug 30. Has anyone done better? and when will they start generally? I suspect that they are ready to go but are waiting to be triggered by an end to the current weather - may rain or a sharp drop in temperature will do the trick - if not the arrival of continental Robins muscling in on their territories will certainly do it!!

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR AUG 19 - 25 (WEEK 34 OF 2013)

Sun 25 Aug

More news from my favourite pages I found the method which I used for writing last Thursday's entry not only pleased me but also hopefully was of interest to others so I am giving it another go with one change (hopefully an improvement) in that I am dividing into separate sections for Birds, Insects, other Animals, Plants and Fungi. INSECTS Bob Chapmans blog. On the morning of Aug 24 Bob was at the Hampshire Wildlife Trust HQ near Botley checking through the Moth Trap when he found a Hornet in it, possibly because it had no home to return to and was on what I call it's Death Leave, free to wander where it will until the winter frosts bring its life to an end. Earlier in the summer it's older siblings will have been fully occupied with the duties of enlarging the nest and feeding the growing number of young worker Hornets, all females (there can eventually be as many as 700 in a nest), but as summer turns to autumn the Queen starts to lay eggs which will hatch into a generation of males and females. When these mature they fly off to mate, after which the females find somewhere to overwinter but the males (of which this was probably one) just wait to die. Much more interesting to me was Bob's remark that .. "there was a suspected sighting of the alien Asian hornet in Kent on Thursday." To find out why this should worry us see https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/alerts/index.cfm?id=4 and read the first main paragraph of the document telling us how the arrival of this species in Britain will further devastate our Honey Bees and other pollinators. Should you see one of these dark bodied, yellow legged Asian Hornets the document gives you an email address to which you should send the details, preferably with a photograph, so that our anti-insect border troops can demonstrate that they will be more successful than their anti-human colleagues. Brian Fellows Emsworth blog. After the worries generated by the potential Asian Hornet invasion Brian provided me with the opportunity to make a joke about a couple of Drone Flies (Eristalis tenax) which he photographed in Brook Meadow at Emsworth doing something which puzzled him - one was flying from flower to flower seemingly feeding normally while the other was following it and hovering above it while it fed. Looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eristalis_tenax to confirm the id of the species I was amused to see that one of the photos showed a pair of them mating on a flower head, causing me to suggest that males of this species are very polite and wait for the females to finish eating before descending on them to mate. If you have a tendency to being a hypochondriac do continue reading the Wikipedia document to the end of the section on 'Infection'. On Aug 23 Brian photgraphed a Short-winged Conehead in Brook Meadow and you can see his image at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0- x686-short-wing-cone-fem-23.08.13.jpg. This species seems to have a bare back with no obvious wings, making it easy to distinguish from it's Long-winged cousin (see the Durlston entry below) Durlston Rangers Diary. On Aug 20 this was where I saw the first mention of a regular autumn phenomonon - the appearance of Harvestmen (Opilones) (If you are not familiar with them see http://wiki.britishspiders.org.uk/index.php5?title=Category:Opiliones) A Long-winged Conehead was also seen at Durlston on Aug 20 but not photographed there - see the image at http://www.tm-nature.co.uk/taxonomy- pics/crickets-hoppers/CONOCEPHALUS-DISCOLOR.jpg in which the long wings hide the whole back in contrast to the Short-winged species seen by Brian Fellows a few days later. If you are interested in the interaction between global warming and evolution go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conocephalus_discolor and read the sections on Physical Description and Range - it could be argued that the increase in global warming which we experienced in the 1980s not only brought about an expansion in the range of Long-winged Coneheads from an area restricted to marshy land in southern England to cover the whole of the British Isles but also gave rise to / was assisted by what was effectively a longer winged version (the 'macropterous' form) which could fly further. I remember that during this expansion/evolution local naturalists were surprised to hear of a 'macropterous' insect grounded (perhaps after a mid-air encounter with a Hobby) in the carpark of the then new retail park across Solent Road from Tesco's. Folkestone News. One item of Butterfly news that seemed noteworthy was a total of 162 Small Tortoiseshells seen in Folkestone in one day by one observer on Aug 21 - I have no info on how wide an area contributed to this total but it does say that he also saw 40 Painted Ladies. Also seen that day but at Dungeness were 7 Clouded Yellows (no higher totals seen in the past three days). A couple of days later (Aug 23) I noticed that someone in the Torbay area of Devon had seen 3 Humming-bird Hawk Moths and it is perhaps significant that such a low count should be noteworthy - perhaps we will still get a late surge of these migrants. Another snippet of migrant butterfly news was a sighting of a continental Swallowtail butterfly settling down to spend the night of Aug 23 on the Sussex Downs near Eastbourne FUNGI Brian Fellows Emsworth blog. Last Monday (Aug 19) I learnt from the Rye Bay website that a fungus called Taphrina alni had arrived in the Rye area and had caused the incipient female catkins of an Alder tree (at this time of year they should have been invisible, tightly sealed within the small green Alder cones which can now be seen on the trees) to grow at a totally abnormal rate so that they burst out of the cones looking like flabby, brightly coloured, tongues and I pointed you to a photo of them at http://www.rxwildlife.info/storage/IMG_4997.JPG. The fungus was new to the Rye area but, although it has been long known in Britain, it was only in the last few years that it had started to spread rapidly and so was worth looking out for wherever Alder trees grow. After reading this Brian Fellows had a look at the Alder Trees growing on Brook Meadow at Emsworth and soon found some examples though they lacked the dramatic red colour which has caused the fungal growth to be called 'Tongues of Fire' - a more appropriate name for the Emsworth growths would be 'Banana Gall' as you can see in Brians photo at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x686-alder-tongue-gall-bm- 23.08.13.jpg THE NAMING OF SPECIES Cliff Dean's blog (http://rxbirdwalks.wordpress.com/). Once again Cliff has come up with a really unusual subject for his latest blog entry to which he has given the title 'New to Science'. The subject is the naming of newly discovered species after people who had nothing to do with the discovery but whose names will make the species that much more memorable in the minds of contemporary scientists - for example the names of three new slime mould beetles are made more memorable by associating them with the American politicians Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld - thus the three beetles discovered in 2005 by scientists Miller and Wheeler are now named in perpetuity Agathidium bushi, A. cheneyi and A. rumsfeldi. All Cliff has done is to give us a link to the website where a very long list of such names can be found - to visit it go to http://www.curioustaxonomy.net/etym/people.html. For a further illustration here is the last entry in the extremely long list <="" font="">Pectinivalva (Casanovula) Hoare, 2013 (moth) The subgenus is named "after the famous Italian adventurer and philanderer Giacomo Casanova, in reference to the unusual sexual ornamentation of the males of some species." [ZooKeys 278] BIRDS Returning Wildfowl. Although numbers so far are small it is clear that wildfowl have begun to return after breeding elsewhere. On Aug 21 two Pintail were seen at Dibden Bay near the head of Southampton Water. On Aug 22 Dungeness had 12 Shoveler and on Aug 24 there were 12 Shoveler at Waltham Brooks plus another 2 at nearby Pulborough Brooks with 7 Wigeon at Pulborough and another 6 at Christchurch Harbour that day plus 65 Teal. All these could have been hidden away at these sites through the breeding season (though I think that unlikely and counts of 84 Wigeon, 105 Teal and 128 Shoveler all newly arrived in the Netherlands on Aug 24 re-inforces the notion that a wave of birds has just flown in). Even better evidence for new arrivals comes in the form of the first reports of Black-necked and Red-necked Grebes - on Aug 23 Dungeness reported one Black-necked Grebe and on Aug 24 there were 4 Black-necked and one Red-necked Grebe in the Netherlands plus one juvenile here in Hampshire on Hook Scrape. Maybe just arrived with them an early returning Great Northern Diver was off Portland, also on Aug 24. Departing summer visitors. I can only scratch the surface in this area, and so far we are only just starting to warm up for the real race south. I am still using Yellow Wagtail as an indicator of the general movement and by Aug 24 there were 400 at Rye Harbour and the number at Portland was up to 100 with smaller numbers seen all along the south coast including at least one heard flying over the shore of Chichester Harbour between Langstone and Emsworth. Portland also reported the 'highest so far' count of Wheatear with 150 present on Aug 24 (though that figure may exclude another 75 recorded on a separate part of the Bill). There were 85 Common Whitethroat at Christchurch Harbour on Aug 22 followed by 73 at Seaford on Aug 24. So far I have only seen two reports of Wryneck in southern England (one in Cornwall on Aug 23 and one at Seaford on Aug 24) but 11 were seen at 7 sites in the Netherlands on Aug 23 and the RBA service had reports of a total of 31 in the UK on Aug 24 (plus 9 Red-backed Shrikes). Farlington Marshes is usually a good site for Whinchat and on Aug 24 there were 4 there with another 2 just inland at Havant Thicket. Shore and game birds. Perhaps the most dramatic count of the past few days was of 2000 Ringed Plover on the Pilsey Sands (southern tip of Thorney Island) on Aug 24 but it was also exciting to see that the Long-billed Dowitcher that had been on the Lymington shore from Aug 2 to 19 was back at Lymington on Aug 23 but has not been seen on Aug 24 or 25. The number of Whimbrel reaching us on return passage may be increasing to judge by the arrival of 26 at Sandwich Bay on Aug 20. One other shorebird getting a mention is a juvenile Spotted Crake seen in the Kent Stour valley on Aug 24 It seems that the Poole Harbour flock of Spoonbills are back from their summer holiday - 14 were present on Aug 24 - while over on the continent White Storks are starting to move south after nesting - on Aug 23 up to 62 were noticed at sites were their presence was unusual. Also starting to move in the Netherlands were 40 Purple Herons. In this country now is the time that land-owners start releasing game birds for winter shoots - this may be the origin of 35 Red-legged Partridge seen in the Seaford area though 23 Grey Partridge in three flocks seen at Rye Harbour on Aug 24 were hopefully birds that that had bred in the wild and were savvy enough to know that their future was safer in a nature reserve. Raptors and rarities. On Aug 23 one site in the Netherlands had 15 Honey Buzzards and another in Czechoslovakia had 10 while other sites reported a further 12 birds. On Aug 24 13 Continental sites reported a total of 19 Ospreys (including 4 at one site) and Red Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Marsh, Hen and Montagu's Harriers, Hobby and Greater Spotted Eagle all got a mention. Turning to current rarities a Hoopoe has been in the south of the New Forest between Brockenhurst and Sway for over a week and for those on holiday in Cornwall there was a Citrine Wagtail near Penzance if they were not distracted by the Sunfish and Basking Sharks also present. Nearer home the autumn Starling flocks are starting to build up and over in the Netherlands a single Fieldfare seen on Aug 23 became 2 on Aug 24 (Birds of Hampshire tells us that in 1968 seven Fieldfare were in Hampshire on Aug 3!). Thu 22 Aug Latest news from my favourite pages This afternoon I made a quick scan of my 'favouite' web pages and jotted down the following notes on entries that I found interesting Sussex Bird News. Several entries mention Kingfisher sightings, presumably reflecting an increasing number of juveniles reaching the coast (Peter Raby also reports hearing one at Langstone Pond on Aug 18). Swifts are still a relatively common sight but a flock of more than 40 over Littlehampton on Aug 21 was big for the late date. A ring tail Hen Harrier flew west over Seaford on both Aug 19 and 21 - currently much less common than Marsh Harriers along the coast - could it have been a departing Montagu's? On Aug 20 a juvenile Cuckoo was seen at Northiam north of Hastings. Hants Bird News. A surge of Yellow Wagtails is currently reachng the coast - on Aug 21 there were 20 at Farlington Marshes and another 20 at Brownwich near Titchfield Haven where there were anther 15 with 5 more at Hook/Warsash. Spotted Flycatchers are also reaching the coast with 1 at Sandy Point (Hayling) on Aug 21 and another 9 at six other Hants coastal sites. Sandy Point also had a Black Tern and there were 2 Sooty Shearwaters at Dibden Bay near the head of Southampton Water. On Aug 20 a Buff Breasted Sandpiper was briefly at Lymington where there was also an Osprey with another of these over Farlington Marshes. On Aug 19 an Osprey was over the IBM Lake at Cosham/Portsmouth and the Long-billed Dowitcher which has been at Lymington since Aug 2 seems to have departed. 27 Yellow Wagtails were at Brownwich and a flock of 35 Mistle Thrush was seen near Lyndhurst. In the evening Tim Lawman recorded 353 Common Terns fly into Langstone Harbour to roost and I see that John Goodspeed was surprised by the precision of the count - I suspect this was the result of Tim using a hand counter, clicking it once for each bird he saw and then reading off the final number though I suspect he would not claim that he never missed a bird when a bunch came in together. Portland News. Yellow Wagtails were also noticeable here with 13 on Aug 21, 20+ on Aug 19, and 9 on Aug 19. Going back to Aug 21 the first Vine Moth to be trapped there this year was recorded. This is a nationally scarce migrant moth - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3417 and http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0955.php. Christchurch Harbour. On Aug 21 one Osprey flew over and 3 others were seen at Dorset sites. On Aug 19 a flock of 27 Yellow Wagtails were here and I see that there were 190 Canada Geese on the sea off the harbour showing that they have now completed their summer moult and, with the additiion of this years newly fledged young, are free to descend on and devastate whatever sites they select as targets. Durlston News. On Aug 22 this carried the first report I have seen this year of Autumn Ladies Tresses orchids flowering plus a fairly late report of a Marbled White butterfly. On Aug 19 it reported a singing Chiff Chaff - another autumn first for me. Rye Bay News. On Aug 21 this had a report on a survey of the local fish with 16 species getting a mention. The two which caught my attention were Thornback Ray which I had not realised was only 20cm long and the Witch or Right-eyed Flounder - if you are ignorant of Flounders and their 'eye migration' (as I was) see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flounder and to see the photo of the Thornback Ray go to http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/8/21/thornback-ray.html. To acquaint yourself with a rather pretty micro-moth see http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/8/19/tortrix-moths.html for Acleris forsskaleana. Dungeness News. Yellow Wagtails are also moving through here with a count of 33 on Aug 21 when a young Cuckoo was also present. On Aug 19 they had one of this year's slender supply of Humming Bird Hawkmoths. Sandwich Bay. One of the less common departing migrants, a Wood Warbler, was here on Aug 18 and 32 Yellow Wagtails were present on Aug 17. Hants Butterflies. On Aug 20 there were still 22 Silver Washed Fritillaries in Pamber Forest (north Hampshire) and at least 7 Clouded Yellows + 2 Painted Ladies in the south of the county. On Aug 19 at least 27 Clouded Yellows were reported at 9 sites including 9 at Old Winchester Hill and 8 at Noar Hill. A more exciting reported that day was of a very tatty Long Tailed Blue being released from a spider's web on Broughton Down before flying on south roughly following the Test Valley. Sussex Butterflies. Good numbers of Small Tortoiseshells have been around for some time but a count of 30 on a garden buddleia near Eastbourne on Aug 20 was the highest I have seen. Also that day at least 24 Clouded Yellows were reported. On Aug 19 a Monarch butterfly was seen near Widewater Lagoon on the coast near Lancing (Worthing). Another 15 Small Tortoiseshells were on one Buddlieia on Aug 19 with at least 6 Clouded Yellows in the county, not including one on Thorney Island and two more over the boundary on Hayling. Brian Fellows Emsworth Blog. On Aug 21 Brian reported two Clouded Yellows in Brook Meadow and commented on the the absence for the ususal summer Swan flocks in Emsworth Harbour - something I have also noticed as a more general phenomenon. The only sites I have seen reporting decent numbers recently are the stretch of the River Itchen running through Southampton (max 103), the Blashford Lakes near Ringwood (max 125) and Alresford Pond (max 56). It is possible that the cleaning up of our rivers and the reduction in lead poisoning from anglers weights which are lost on the riverbeds may have resulted on the Swans staying inland. For another view of where these birds are to be found see http://www.cleveland.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2013/08/mute_swan_flocks_explode _aroun.html which says of Swans around Ohio (USA) .. The swans in question are not native tundra swans or trumpeter swans whose once-abundant numbers in North America dwindled precipitously due to overhunting and habitat loss. They are mute swans, an invasive species from Europe brought to America by the decorative garden trade as early as the 1800s. Unlike native swans, the mute swans are aggressive, territorial and are gobbling native marsh plants at an alarming rate. They often overgraze an area to the detriment of plant diversity, fish habitat, water quality, erosion control and vegetation needed by native fish and waterfowl." Brian also has a photo of an Eel in the River Ems on Aug 21 and it might be heading out to sea as I think that July is the time of year when Eels which are ready to start heading for the Sargasso sea start to do so. In recent years considerable efforts have been made to unblock their traditional routes to the sea, most of which had become effectively impassable to them. On Aug 19 Brian's blog included a superb photo of a Bee 'stealing nectar' from a flower by biting into the base of the flower and this raised a number of questions in my mind. I have long known that different groups of insect species have different feeding mechanisms and that those of the Bees and Wasps are the most complicated as they have both biting jaws and tonques with the latter varying greatly in length and design, some being tubes for sucking up liquid while others are broad 'paddles' for scooping up pollen or the more sticky forms of nectar. As with most things in nature there are no hard and fast rules restricting a species to just one way of getting its food and I suspect that some species which are known to 'steal nectar' regularly from certain types of flower will change to a more conventional approach when flowers that allow them to get at the nectar directly 'come on the market' (e.g. when Ivy becomes the predominant nectar source in the autumn). Another thing that I learnt is that usng the back door to get at the nectar does not mean that the 'nectar thief' plays no part in pollination - it travels from flower to flower and inevitably picks up and re-distributes some pollen in the process. To see a nectar thief at work have a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S4DSSmTr5A. Two other things which I discovered are that in the early days of the development of flowering plants there were just two methods of pollination, a choice between wind pollination in which the plant has not control over where the wind blows the pollen and equally chancy method of relying on lumbering beetles to distrbute it. Since then most plants have spent their time training flying insects as high speed couriers to visit only their plant species, and to get there as fast as possible using their wings, using a large array of coloured guide marks and rewards (and in some cases traps so that the pollinator does not leave the plant until it has done its work) Bob Chapman's Solent Reserves Blog On Aug 19 Bob took his team down to Kimmeridge Bay in Dorset and three of this observations caught my attention. First was a good photo of a Lulworth Skipper, next was a fascinating pattern of marks on the rocks made by Periwinkle snails grazing on algae, and thirdly was a photo of a Round-mouthed Snail (Pomatias elegans) which is not a seashore species. I have several times found their shells in chalky scree near the head of the Ladies Walk in Stansted Forest and the snail wins every prize for its persistent obstinacy in continuing to live an underwater life, breathiing with gills that need to be kept permanently submerged in water, but doing so far from the sea. To achieve its chosen life style it must preserve its internal water supply against leaks (which it does by having a very secure plug (called an operculum) fixed to the bottom of its foot, completely sealing the entrance when the foot is retracted (when not retracted it presumably holds it shell up at an angle which retains the water in its bowl shape). The second necessity is to minimise evaporation and it does this by burrowing deep into loose chalky soil, normally staying there by day and only emerging to feed at night (I don't know what Bob's specimen was doing in a very exposed position by day - it looks as if it were contemplating suicide!) To see Bob's complete entry go to http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/the-team-go-mad-in-dorset-with- added-snails/ but do also read another blog which tells you more about the snail - see http://floracantiaci.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/little-shuffler.html. Bob's entry for Aug 20 interested me with its photo of a Water Spider (Argyroneta aquatica) which he found in the lakes at the Swanwick reserve by the River Hamble. This spider shows a similar perversity to the Round-mouthed Snail by insisting on living underwater although it is an air-breathing creature. To achieve this life style it is a good swimmer and wears a coat of long hairs in which it can collect a supply of air bubbles and keep them trapped while it swims down to something like an underwater plant leaf which it can turn into an underwater air- filled tent from which it can spot small underwater creatures that it can grab for its dinner. Once a solid 'tent' has been constructed and sealed with silk the spider spends its whole life in it, mating, egg-laying and even hibernating in it. I see that, unlike most spiders, the male can be slightly larger than the female, growing to 15 mm, but I cannot find any proof that the male and female live together permanently. In this blog entry Bob also tells us that the 'old pond' at the Farlington reserve (presumably the overgrown pond north of the A27) still has an active colony of Small Red-eyed Damselflies. For a description of the species see http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/small-red-damselfly or http://www.hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/Ceriagrion_tenellum_gallery.htm Trektellen news. This website which receives information about migrant birds from all over Europe, including the British Isles, gives a much better idea of 'the big picture' of migration if you look at its 'Remarkable Observations' page which brings together those observations which the observers thought were unusual, not just in the sense of being rarities but in the sense of being different (either in numbers or species) from what had been seen there recently - thus as a wave of migrants passes across the continent or as birds move to new areas to follow established patterns of breeding or feeding behaviour this site tends to show up these changes before you notice them in your local area. To illustrate this here are the entries which caught my eye for the past three days (if no location is stated the observation came from the Netherlands). <="" font="">Aug 20: 800 Cory's Shearwater off Ireland; 2 Little Bittern in France. <="" font="">Aug 21: 12 Honey Buzzards; 1 Corncrake; 3 Dotterel; 1 Grey Phalarope; 446 House Martin <="" font="">Aug 22: 3 Quail; 5 Spotted Crake; 4 Osprey; 1 Dotterel; 8 Wryneck; 114 Reed Warbler Devon Birding. Several Small Pearl Bordered butterflies were seen on Aug 22 indicating the emergence of an exceptional summer brood (the main brood comes out in June). This species has almost vanished from both Hampshire and Sussex so its good to know it can still be found in southern England. On Aug 21 a flock of 16 Mistle Thrushes was seen - this species does seem to be making a comeback after almost vanishing here in south east Hampshire RBA (Rare Bird Alert service). On Aug 18 a Red-billed Tropic Bird was seen off Cornwall - up to Jan 2013 the BTO had less than 20 British records. If you are not familiar with the species see http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Red- billed_Tropicbird. More expected rarities have been a Spotted Crake in Somerset on Aug 19, a Wryneck in the Scillies and a Woodchat Shrike in Northhamptonshire on Aug 20, and a Red-backed Shrike in the Scillies with a Red-necked Phalarope in Norfolk on Aug 21. Lots more in the daily bulletins issued by RBA - see http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/dailysummary.asp Three Amigos. These three naval birding friends bring us news and photos from around the world but their latest update was of news from the Fareham area and the thing which I found most interesting was to see how the southern fringe of Fareham town has taken on a look of southern France with an immense crop of Sunflowers - see http://www.surfbirds.com/community- blogs/amigo/files/2013/08/Sunflowers-2.jpg Cliff Dean's blog (http://rxbirdwalks.wordpress.com/). If you start at the current latest entry and scroll down through his blog you will either be totally puzzled or fascinated. I am certainly hooked and suggest you try his entry for Aug 19 at http://rxbirdwalks.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/knock-john-shivering-sands/ Mon 19 Aug (Link to previous day’s entry) Pointed Snails, Slender Hare's Ear, Early Golden Rod and 77 Egrets under a full Moon This afternoon I cycled to the Thorney Great Deeps west end and found two species which have eluded me so far this summer - the tiny umbellifer Slender Hare's Ear (Bupleurum tenuissimum) which has only just appeared on the scene (for this year) and the small Pointed Snail (Cochlicella acuta) whose empty shells can be found at any time of year but which only prove that they are alive at this time of year when the sun's heat beating down on the dry ground which they inhabit would fry them in their shells if they remained on the ground, forcing them to climb up plant stems where the air is cooler. Before reaching Thorney Island I made a brief stop at the junction of the Emsworth Road in Havant with Meadowlands Close to see if a plant, Round- leaved Fluellen (Kicksia spuria), had re-appeared on bare ground where I found it last year. The photos below, though not up to modern photgraphic standards, show that it had re-appeared - the flower is unmistakeable, if blurred, but some leaves which seem to look as if they belonged to Sharp-leaved Fluellen actually belonged to Scarlet Pimpernel and the only proof of Round-leaved Fluellen is in the hairiness of some leaves. My three photos start with a view of the site and then focus in on the plants.

Round-leaved Fluellen site and flower Returning to Thorney Island I saw single Clouded Yellows beside the seawall track on both my outward and return journeys but not the two Wheatears seen by a birder who followed me along the track though he did put me on to a distant Marsh Harrier flying west over the Emsworth West Parade shore to Warblington Church where it soared up into the sky before returning east. At one point it seemed to be hunting low over the Warblington Farm fields which have a Sweet Corn crop making me wonder it the Harrier thought they were a form of reed bed which might contain prey My own first find was of a small group of Pointed Snails near the foot of the seawall bank only a few yards south of where I parked my bike against the fence above the Great Deeps inlet pipes and after taking pictures of them I turned back north and found the Slender Hares Ear, also at the foot of the bank, immediately north of the worn path up the bank just north of the fence where I left my bike.

Pointed Snails (each less than 1cm long)

Slender Hare's Ear site (after clearing some grass) and a some full grown flowering plants To complete my trip I rode on to Nutbourne Farm Lane where I found the Early Golden Rod (Solidago gigantea) surviving from previous years but could not find any trace of the Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecia inaequidens) which has been there for the past five years at least.

Early Goldenrod site and plant My failed search for the Narrow-leaved Ragwort led me to a very healthy Common Alder tree with many young green cones and I took the opportunity to scan them in search of a strange 'fungal gall' called Taphrina alni (sometimes called Tongues of Fire or Alder Tongue) which I had only become aware of earlier in the day from the Rye Bay website. To see what it looks like go to http://www.rxwildlife.info/storage/IMG_4997.JPG It seems that Taphrina is a genus of fungi with many species of which this one affecting the femaie cones of the Common Alder is just one but it is worth being aware of for two reasons, one being the dramatically bright growth which it induces in order to create fruiting bodies which will produce its spores, the other being its status as a potential newcomer to southern England. Wikipedia says .. "This gall was rare in the United Kingdom and is absent from many of the published gall keys, although common in Western Europe. It has been recorded in Cornwall first in the 1940s,[4] and then in Northumberland, Ayrshire and Skye, mainly since the 1990s. It is becoming quite common throughout the United Kingdom." Another website which confirms what I have read elsewhere is http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/alder-tongue. Note that the fungal body is not always bright red. To round off the day I took advantage of the weather and tides to check out the Langstone Pond Egret roost at dusk, recording a total of at least 77 birds. When I arrived 30 minutes before dusk with the water still low (rising from low at 15:50 to a 4.9metre high at 22:12) I could see 43 Egrets in the trees (there were probaby more) and by the time I left at around 20:35 I had seen another 34 fly in. At least as good as seeing the Egrets was watching the full moon rise from behind the north of Thorney Island until it was clear of the purple-tinged ring of dust-filled air around the horizon into the clear night sky. Another bonus was to hear the very first attempt at autumn song from a Robin in nearby bushes.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR AUG 12 - 18 (WEEK 33 OF 2013) Sat 17 Aug Warblington cemetery visit plus St Faith's Churchyard On Thursday (Aug 15) I went round the Warblington cemetery with my camera and took more than 40 photos of some wildlife interest but found nothing more exciting than a very unexpected growth of Pale Persicaria on the bare earth of a grave which was not recent but which had not yet become grassed over. This morning (Aug 17) I visited St Faith's churchyard and found that on top of the summer die back of flowers the whole area had just been strimmed, removing what flowers had been there a couple of days ago. Nevertheless one of my photos, of a Ladybird on a Lime tree leaf, did rouse my interest when I set about trying to identify the species. I already knew that identifying Ladybirds is not just a matter of counting the spots since the number can vary widely within any one species (and there are 46 species to be found in Britain although only 26 of them look like traditional Ladybirds) and the background colour can also vary from red to black and on to yellow. I also knew that within the past decade we have been invaded by a new and vicious Harlequin Ladybird species (whose appearance can also vary widely from individual to individual) which delights in eating our native species rather than munching up Aphids but I had not realised that there was a national shortage of Ladybirds this summer, leaving gardeners helpless in their fight against Aphids and Blackfly. This seems to have been serious enough to make it a newsworthy subject to both the Daily Mail and the Telegraph which tells us the problem started when last year's heavy rainfall 'washed out' the supply of Aphids and Greenfly which in turn saw many Ladybirds die of hunger. This year many fewer Ladybirds than normal have been seen and when I found one this morning I not only realised how few I have seen this year but also, now that I am pretty sure it is a Harlequin, that it is 'the wrong sort of Ladybird'.

Harlequin Ladybird on Lime Leaf - but where are our native species? Searching for wild flowers I found just two Clover species (Red and White) which seemed worth recording but colourful fruits were appearing on the big Yew tree and there was further evidence of the imminence of autumn from the first tiny buds of flowers on Ivy.

Red and White Clover still flowering - just!

Yew tree fruit and Ivy buds as the year moves towards autumn Turning to what I saw at Warblington on Thursday there was a similar lack of genuine wildflower variety though I did find four photogenic species shown below

Common Mallow and Hoary Willowherb still in fresh flower

Pale Persicaria and Common Poppy enjoying recently dug earth Fuller accounts of both visits can be seen on my Cemeteries page (go to http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm and select the link for the relevant site and date) Wed 14 Aug Havant cemetery visit Today I made my monthly visit to the Havant cemetery to collect info and photos with which to prepare the poster that will go on the Havant Borough notice board in the cemetery to encourage people to take an interest in the efforts being made by the Borough to encourage wildlife in the Open Spaces they manage. A full version of the poster can be seen on my Cemeteries page at http://ralph- hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm#H1408 but here are a few of the photos and the fuller descriptive text which can be seen there.

My first Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennicchi) of the year - a direct result of the new grassland management here

Gatekeeper and Common Blue - two of the insects enjoying the habitat

Himalyan Giant blackberries - a species appearing in a website of the Top Ten Most Unwanted Plants

Horse Chestnut leaves blotched by leaf mining caterpillars of the Cameraria ohridella moth See the Cemeteries page (link above) for more photos and a fuller descriptive text Mon 12 Aug In search of Bastard Toadflax on Portsdown plus last week's highlights The presence of Bastard Toadflax on Portsdown had been reported as early as June 19 this year and last year Autumn Ladies Tresses had appeared by Aug 14 so I thought there was a good chance of seeing both species on the hill today - sadly I saw neither despite making a close search of several areas where I have seen these species in the past but the afternoon was not wasted as I managed to get photos of a Clouded Yellow and of a Chalkhill Blue apparently nectaring on a Carline Thistle plus one of a fresh Robin's Pincushion and another of Betony to represent the 40 flowering plant species that I did see. I also had close but brief view of an unusually marked hoverfly which I am pretty sure was of the genus Xanthogramma but cannot be sure if it was X.pedissequum (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/runnerwill/3439248652/) or X. citrofasciatum (see http://www.ispot.org.uk/species_dictionary/Xanthogramma%20citrofasciatum) I parked in the layby beside James Callaghan Drive some 300 metres west of the hilltop roundabout and walked west to a point about halfway along the top edge of the Paulsgrove chalk pit

Clouded Yellow taking a brief rest and Chalkhill Blue apparently getting nectar from a dead looking Carline Thistle.

Betony still looking fresh and a Robin's Pin Cushion gall Back at home today I not only spotted a full grown Zebra spider but also found a newly flowering display of Thyme-leaved Speedwell, the first hint of the second round of flowering by plants that we have not seen since the beginning of June Last week's highlights from the internet start with news of the first autumn passage report of a Black Tern in Hampshire - one roosting at The Kench on Hayling Island on Aug 10. On Aug 9 Rye Harbour had a flock of 61 Common Sandpipers while Poole Harbour had 7 Spotted Redshank on Aug 8 and the Lower Test had 10 Green Sandpipers also on Aug 8. At Rye Harbour the count of Golden Plover was up to 125 on Aug 8 and some 300 Sand Martins flew over. Presumably leaving us on Aug 8 was a Honey Buzzard seen near Basingstoke after three separate incoming Marsh Harriers flew north over the Hurst area at Lymington on Aug 7 and a different Marsh Harrier was hunting the Farlington Marshes Point field on Aug 8. Another 'big bird' making an unusual journey was a Great White Egret seen fishing at the Leigh Park Gardens Lake early on Aug 10 before flying off to visit a pond in the Hambledon area later that day. Smaller departing migrants included 5 Nightingales at Seaford on Aug 10 when Portland had 200 Willow Warblers plus 50 Sedge Warblers, 40 Common Whitethroats, 25 Wheatears, 5 Grasshopper Warblers and 4 Pied Flycatchers. Also on Aug 10 Beachy Head had 115 Willow Warblers, 42 Common Whitethroats, 11 Stonechats, 9 Reed Warblers (but only 3 Sedge Warblers) and a few Garden Warblers, Blackcaps, Nightingales, Chiffchaffs, Common Redstarts, Lesser Whitethroats, Wheatears and Pied Flycatchers. Peak count of departing Willow Warblers was 310 at Christchurch Harbour on Aug 7. Individual stars among the departing migrants were a Wryneck on the Isle of Wight on Aug 8 and a Quail at Christchurch Harbour on Aug 9. Another star was a single Wood Warbler seen on the southern fringe of Fareham on Aug 10. Most of the departing migrants were seen at many sites but Christchurch was the best place to see the few passing Yellow Wagtails (3 on Aug 9) and Tree Pipits (3 on Aug 10) and it was the only site to record a passing Ring-necked Parakeet (from the Swanage area colony if that still exists?) Cornwall has recently had a surge of interesting seabirds and this week a lone Cory's Shearwater came as far east as West Bay in Dorset on Aug 10 and other 'good sightings' were of a newly fledged Little Owl at Hook on Aug 10 (and at least two birders have recently seen Little Owls beside the old Billy Line in the Hayling Oysterbeds area). In Southampton one birder noticed on Aug 9 that the small group of breeding House Martins had increased in number to 9 as the result of juveniles fledging from the 3 nests there. Also in Southampton the flock of Mute Swans on the Itchen was 103 on Aug 8 Turning to Butterfly news the hot topic is the current invasion of Clouded Yellows of which I have seen at least 44 reports between Aug 4 and 11. Most of these have been sightings of one or two butterflies but a Lucerne Field on Thorney Island had attracted 13 on Aug 4 and a spectacular 140 on Aug 7 when a count of 22 came from the Broadlands estate at Romsey. On Aug 8 there were still more than 100 at the Thorney Island site which also had 'thousands' of Silver Y migrant moths. Painted Ladies have also been numerous but the highest count I have seen was of only 12 in Southampton on Aug 9 I see that the first sighting of Brown Hairstreak in Sussex was on Aug 3 and if you want to see a good photo of one go to http://www.sussex- butterflies.org.uk/species/butterfly/hairstreak%20images/BHSteyning060813LP.jp g. Other highlights of recent news have been two more sightings of migrant Swallowtails both seen on Aug 8 at Steyning in Sussex and Milton in Portsmouth to add to 5 previous reports (not including a Citrus Swallowtail seen at Ivy Lake in Chichester on July 21 and thought to have escaped from a butterfly house at nearby Earnley). Also from Sussex comes news of three sightings of Long Tailed Blue to add to the one in Devon on July 25 - the new ones were of a female at Arundel on Aug 8 and of maybe the same female at Westfield and Pett on Aug 9 - the sighting at Pett lead to the find of two eggs laid by the butterfly. Another migrant was a Monarch seen at Lee on the Solent on Aug 6 - this is the eighth sighting of this species this summer with two of the previous reports also coming from Lee on the Solent on June 29 and July 6 A couple of moth species have been in the news starting with a Beautiful Marbled seen at Staplecross in East Sussex on Aug 9 - for a photo and a comment on its rarity see http://www.sussexmothgroup.org.uk/speciesData.php?taxonNum=2407a. The other species is the much commoner but very colourful Garden Tiger which is now on the wing giving one lucky trapper a haul of 8 in his Brighton (Portsdlade) trap on Aug 7 - for photo see http://www.sussex- butterflies.org.uk/species/moths/G/GardenTigersPortslade070813DPerry.jpg

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR AUG 5 - 11 (WEEK 32 OF 2013) Thu 8 Aug Around north Hayling This afternoon I cycled to the Oysterbeds to get my first sight of what I call Silver Plovers (Grey Plovers in their brilliant black and silver summer plumage. With the tide high I found around 30 of them roosting on the outer bund wall of the northern pools close to the Coastal Path but, other than the noisy Common Terns on the lagoon islands, there was little else to see here so I went on down the coastal path looking for Pepper Saxifrage, finding just one flowering plant before turning off at the Pillbox to go via Daw Lane and Copse Lane to North Common. Here Red Bartsia was in full flower but my target species for this visit - Fragrant Agrimony - had only the smallest hint of the flower spikes that I was hoping for. The two plants which I was expecting (but could not see on my last visit) looked healthy enough and the scent from a crushed leaf confirmed that this was the uncommon species. Yesterday a Clouded Yellow was seen here at North Common and today one was seen on Thorney Island (with another at Durlston). Another good sighting yesterday was of the first returning Pied Flycatcher, seen at Seaford where the last spring arrival was seen on June 1 (a second was at Christchurch Harbour today and I see that there was also one at Weymouth (Ferrybridge) on Aug 7). Other birds at Seaford, including an unidentified hybrid Falcon, are listed on Matt Eade's blog at http://seafordbirding.blogspot.co.uk/. From Brighton comes a report of Swifts making their last evening visit to nests at the Brighton General Hospital on Aug 6 with none seen there on Aug 7. Also from the SOS news I see that Whinchats are starting to return to the coast while the Hampshire birding news includes a sighting of the Long-billed Dowitcher still on the Lymington shore today where it has been present since Aug 2. Yesterday the first two (for Hampshire) Black Terns were at Titchfield Haven and there were 11 Curlew Sandpipers on the Lymington shore (where a peak of 13 were seen on Aug 5). Perhaps the most exciting news of the last two days has been a report of a Wryneck on Bembridge Down (IoW) on Aug 8 From the Sussex/Kent border comes the first find of Spreading Hedge Parsley where three small clumps (already with seeds as well as flowers) were found just east of Rye on Aug 5. Hottest Hampshire butterfly news is of the first Brown Hairstreaks seen at Shipton Bellinger near the Hants/Wilts border on Aug 6 but Sussex had them earlier with the first on Aug 3 with others seen at more than one site since (nationally Dorset reported the first on July 24). Other news to come in my next mini-summary. Wed 7 Aug Small Teazel at Racton in the Ems valley The main event today was a 'reunion' lunch at a pub in Walderton with people that I worked with in 1970 so I was not expecting any special wildlife observations but a quick walk to the bank to top up my wallet added another species to my list of species in St Faith's churchyard - Sticky Groundsel, which has been in short supply so far this year, flowering not far from a second plant of Vervain (which was new there recently). These were seen while walking along Homewell past the Robin Hood pub - I had chosen this route to see if the Cockspur grass had re- appeared in the gutter of this road below the church yard wall where it has in the past occurred as a result of people scattering bird seed. No sign of it today but the leaves of a plant growing from the pavement of The Pallant close to Waitrose tells me this is the start of its season. My next find was of Chicken of the Woods fungus growing on a long dead tree stump in the pub garden at Walderton - if you are not familiar with this very colourful fungus have a look at http://www.crazyaboutmushrooms.com/Graphics/mushroom_photos/ChickenOfTh eWoods.jpg. A brief stop at the Racton road junction on the way home enabled me to confirm that the Small Teazel colony is still flourishing though it would be impossible for the casual road user passing the junction to spot them. They grow under the shade of tall trees and are surrounded by an outer defence of huge Butterbur leaves backed up by a thick belt of two metre high stinging Nettles through which I had to force my way before I glimpsed the first of the many plants which are over two metres tall. I did not have my camera with me but you can get a good impression of what I saw from http://pharm1.pharmazie.uni- greifswald.de/systematik/7_bilder/pis/pis00062.jpg. Each plant repeatedly forks to create multiple single flower heads and for my own record I collected a single flower head and a pair of leaves which I photographed back at home to create the images below.

Samples of the Small Teazels at Racton. The Hants Flora clssifies Small Teazel as Rare and the distribution map show just two sites in south Hampshire, both on the Wallington River north of Fareham (where I once saw the species in the past) so I take an interest in checking this, the only local site that I know of (albeit in Sussex) each year Mon 5 Aug Insects respond to the heat as birds react to the end of their breeding season Since abandoning my Weekly Summaries I have also simplified my method of recording and sorting the mass of 'interesting data' that I come across each day with the result that my info is no longer sorted into the sequence of species used in e.g. annual bird reports but is grouped into arbitrary 'chunks' that are of current interest - e.g. for birds Returning Shorebirds, Departing Summer Visitors, some specific species of current interest to me (such as Crossbills), Unusual Vagrants, and 'Other Birds' Having recorded my data in a spreadsheet and then sorted it into these arbitrary groups (with further sorting within the group by species name and date of observation) I hope to be able to pick out a few bits of general interest so let's give it a go. My first group is 'Other Birds' and the first species within the group is Chaffinch under which I have recorded an observation of 35 Chaffinch on July 31 working through gorse on Ibsley Common in the New Forest immediately east of the Blashford Lakes. This seemed unusual to me but I have no further information as to what had brought these birds together at that site. My next entry is also of what seemed to me to be an unusual observation with no obvious cause, but worth bearing in mind in case it was the start of a new pattern of behaviour - it is a sighting of a single Hawfinch on Aug 2 at Kingley Vale on the Downs north of Chichester but also not far west of a regular Hawfinch hotspot in the West Dean Woods. More easily explained was a flock of 27 Mistle Thrush seen on Aug 4 at Ibsley Common which must reflect a welcome increase in the numbers of this species which in recent years has been in steep decline. In past years summer flocks of Mistle Thrush were relatively common and I am pleased to have seen at least two previous reports of them this summer - a small flock of 12 on Graffham Down near Midhurst on June 26, then a similar sized flock in the Watergate House estate in the Ems valley. While still with miscellaneous bird news I heard something on the Radio that I did not know about Kestrels - they are supposed to see in the ultra-violet in addition to 'normal' light (the Wikipedia page linked to below says this is true of all birds) and to use this ability to spot small mammals by the glow of the urine trails they leave. Another question about bird eyesight was raised when a non-birder asked me how it is that a Blackbird, with eyes on the sides of its head (and not positioned to give the stereoscopic vision of a Kestrel or Owl) can apparently spot a prey item from a distance of more than a yard and run unerringly to grab it. This led me to have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_vision from which I learnt that birds with eyes in the sides of their head do have some overlap of the fields of both eyes to the front (but not behind them) and can detect movement of possible predators in a lateral plane approaching 360 degrees but they see things more clearly and focus on them more accurately when using one eye (the Blackbird can be seen to cock its head on one side to get the potential prey item into the centre of its monocular vision before making its dash to peck up the prey) Another species in this miscellaneous group is Mute Swan for which a count of 125 was recorded at the Blashford Lakes on July 30 and this caused me to wonder what had happened to the large summer moult flock which once seemed a permanent feature of Langstone Harbour (where they would congregate off the Broadmarsh slipway at the mouth of the Hermitage Stream) and of Chichester Harbour at Emsworth. I have been through my set of Hampshire Bird Reports from 1982 to 2011 and they show peak counts for both sites occurring in 2001 with 135 in Emsworth and 104 in Langstone Harbour (that probably includes more than the Hermitage stream mouth) but I cannot see any obvious trend in the figures other than a very erratic increase up to 2001 followed by a sharp decline at the Broadmarsh area (just 5 birds there on Aug 3 this year after a count of 21 there on 6 Aug 2012). The count has held up better at Emsworth where the birds are present throughout the year whereas the Broadmarsh slipway area is only used as a summer moult site and my conclusion is that more young Swans are opting to stay on at home with their parents rather than striking out on their own and so having to find their own accommodation during their teenage years. I cannot see any evidence that the banning in 1987 of the sale of lead fishing weights in Britain has brought about any increase in the Swan population (many of the weights would become detached from fishing tackle and fall to the bottom of the water from which Swans would ingest them along with the small stones that help to grind up their food, and suffer subsequent lead poisoning). A final miscellaneous bird observation that I was particularly interested in was of a male Sparrowhawk teaching two of this year's young how to hunt in the Nore Barn Wood on July 31. They were said to have made a great deal of noise in their excitement and I guess they would have been very lucky to have caught any bird that had not heard them coming! This is the second mention of Sparrowhawks nesting in this wood this year (as they have done for many years past) - the first was by the same observer as the current observation and on May 6 .. "He was standing under the Sparrowhawk nest in Nore Barn Woods when the male presented a mouse to the female in an aerial ballet before she took it up to the nest." At the time I was surprised by the nature of the offering - I had thought that Sparrowhawks preyed exclusively on birds but I have found two authoritative sources that say that they also take small mammals from the ground in addition to bats which are taken in flight. Going back to Kestrels for a moment they too run training courses in hunting for their young and in the past I have seen a line of six or more hovering Kestrels, spaced out 100 yards or so apart over the Sinah Beachlands near Gunner Point on Hayling, all gradually dropping closer to the ground on some unseen signal from their 'tutor'. I doubt the younsters in this class were any more successful in catching prey on that occassion than were the young Sparrowhawks but at least they gained some familiarity with the hunting technique. Crossbills are still turning up in unexpected places but the biggest flock mentioned in the last few days (with the exception of 109 over a Netherlands site on Aug 1) was only 26 going east over Christchurch Harbour on Aug 1. A couple of other unexpected places where Crossbills were seen were Hedge End close to the M27 passing Southampton and in the small Stoke Park Wood which is almost surrounded by the modern housing of Bishopstoke just east of Eastleigh. A more specific category of current bird interest is the southerly movement of sea and shore birds now moving from breeding areas to winter quarters and one species currently expected in Britain is Spotted Crake of which four 'outrunners' were in the Netherlands on Aug 2. A couple of more exciting passage birds already in southern England are a Pectoral Sandpiper at Pulborough Brooks from Aug 1 to 3 and a Grey Phalarope in Poole Harbour on Aug 1. Aug 3 brought a more noticeable flock of 697 Bar-tailed Godwits to Cap Gris-nez after a party of seven Avocet had been seen at Titchfield Haven on July 30. Terns are now moving in large numbers - on Aug 1 a Netherlands site reported 3087 Common and 4632 Sandwich Terns with smaller numbers on following days while Dungeness had 2 Black Terns and 1 Sooty Shearwater on Aug 2 (Sooty Shearwater passage brought 27 to the Hebrides on Aug 3). On Aug 1 the number of passing Common Terns spending the night in Langstone Harbour was in excess of 455. Also on Aug 2 the movement of Common Sandpipers (which has been going on in small numbers since early June) entered a new phase with a count of 167 at a Netherlands site on Aug 2 - on Aug 3, also in the Netherlands, there was a count of 225 Greenshank. Here in southern England Rye Harbour on Aug 3 reported that its recently acquired flock of Golden Plover had increased to 62 birds. On our east coast Spurn Head had 374 Knot and 222 Whimbrel heading south while down here on July 31 there were already 152 Lapwing at The Vyne near Basingstoke and 39 newcomers at Woolmer Pond in east Hants with 51 at the Lower Test on Aug 1. Cornwall has had a bit of a seawatching bonanza recently with many sightings including the first Little Auk since March on Aug 4 after a probable Mediterranean Shearwater on Aug 1 and a Fea's Petrel on July 31. More likely to be seen in central southern England is a flood of Lesser Blackback gulls of which 1861 were seen at a Netherlands site on Aug 3 with 1069 there on Aug 4. On July 31 RBA reported a total of 18 Great White Egrets in the UK including a group of 8 in Somerset and probably including one at Bembridge on the IoW which was reported on Derek Hale's website on Aug 1 and again on Aug 4 (in Kent there was a Cattle Egret at the Oare Marshes on Aug 3). Another big bird seen on the Isle of Wight was an Osprey at Newtown Harbour on Aug 1. Other raptors in the news were a Black Kite over Bodmin Moor in Cornwall on Aug 2 and 3 while Trektellen reported 4 Honey Buzzards, a Montagus's and a Marsh Harrier plus a Hobby over the Netherlands on Aug 2 Most of our summer visitors are starting to appear on the south coast now but in small numbers. Single Wheatears were seen at Sandwich in Kent, Christchurch in Dorset and Penzance in Cornwall and single Yellow Wagtails were also reported at three sites. Christchurch Harbour had a single Wood Warbler but also had a peak count of 70 Sedge Warblers plus 10 Willow Warblers and 2 Lesser Whitethroats while Portland had a single Grasshopper Warbler and Houghton (south of Pulborough) had a lone Turtle Dove. For those interested in Cuckoos one (possibly an adult) was at Ibsley Common in the New Forest on Aug 2 while the bird adopted by Sussex reached Lake Chad on Aug 1 - see http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking/sussex. Moving on to Butterflies I saw eleven reports of Clouded Yellow (several reports being of more than one butterfly) between July 25 and Aug 3 and had an additional one fly through my Havant garden on Aug 2 and I also saw 19 reports of Painted Ladies as well as having them in my own garden on Aug 2 and 4. There has clearly been a major emergence of these two species and no doubt many of them have crossed the sea to get here but several reports (and my own observations) mentioned how fresh the butterflies looked so maybe some have emerged locally from eggs laid by a few earlier arrivals whose presence went un- noticed. A less common migrant seen this week is the Swallowtail with one seen at Friston (north of Eastbourne) on Aug 3 and another photographed at Reculver on the north Kent coast on Aug 4 - see http://www.kentos.org.uk/Reculver/images/swallowtail0813b.jpg. Also photographed at Reculver on Aug 2 was a White-letter Hairstreak - these have been out since at least June 27 when one seen in Hampshire was also the first nationally (the IBM North Harbour site at Portsmouth had its first on June 29) - the current photo is at http://www.kentos.org.uk/Reculver/images/whitelhairstreak0813marc.jpg. A much commoner butterfly which can be seen from early spring to late autumn is the Speckled Wood and its third and last brood started to appear on Aug 1, drawing my attention to its presence with a cameo appearance in my garden on Aug 3. Another normally common butterfly which has been in short supply this year is also making its second appearance at the moment - this is the Common Blue which caught my attention with a count of 13 at Peel Common (south of Fareham) on Aug 1, one day after the first appearance of second brood Wall Browns at the eastern end of the Downs near Eastbourne on July 31. Havant Thicket was also in the news for having 11 Dark Green Fritillaries on Aug 1 but I have no idea where to look for them. The Silver Y moth is a mass migrant which escapes the attention of many naturalists by, unlike the Painted Ladies which fly by day and perch on prominent flowers, flying mostly by night and hiding in long grass by day - if when walking through the grass you disturb one what you will see is a fast moving grey blur of very fast wings that almost immediately vanishes again into the grass. One which revealed its arrival in my garden this week did so as a corpse lying on top of the white-painted letter box on the wall in my outside porch. The corpse seemed to be intact and the wings showed the distinctive 'silver y' (seen by naturalists who in the old days were properly educated in Greek and Latin as the Greek letter Gamma and hence named Autographa gamma which mght be translated in their minds as 'the moth which signs itself with the letter Y'). Returning to my corpse my first thought was that the moth had been caught during the night by a bat but I think that when a bat catches a juicy item of this sort the first thing it does is to bite off the tasteless wings which fall to the ground, then to eat the moth's body whole. Rejecting the bat theory I looked up to the ceiling of the porch where un- named spiders have spun webs designed to catch any insect seeking shelter there, and of course spiders only take the liquids from within the bodies of their prey, leaving an apparently intact husk of the prey to fall to the ground. Other moths in the latest news have been an uncommon Copper Underwing found in a garden shed at Aldershot on Aug 2 and a couple more Humming Bird Hawkmoths at Hastings and Seaford - a very poor showing of these so far this year but I see that last year they only started to appear in strength from Aug 28 onward with the majority seen in September and October. To appreciate the beauty of the Copper Underwing I have to offer a link to a specimen pinned and mounted in an old fashioned display cabinet - see http://www.pittpaths.com/st/0202.htm Most of our dragonfly species have been out for some time but one common species not seen until July 24, was the Migrant Hawker which has since become common enough to spend half an hour in my Havant garden today (Aug 6). Much less common but no longer rare in south eastern counties is the Southern Migrant Hawker which was seen in Essex for the first time this year on Aug 2. To see a photo of this or any UK draongflies go to http://www.british- dragonflies.org.uk/content/uk-species where you can also find a photo of the Scarce Emerald (Lestes dryas) which made it first appearance in Essex on Aug 1. Two other impressive insects making their debut this week were large hoverfly species which might be mistaken for Hornets if colour was the only id factor - these were Volucella zonaria and its smaller cousin Volucella inanis which were seen on Brook Meadow in Emsworth on Aug 4 and 3 respectively - photos at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x696-hoverfly-v.zonaria-bm- 04.08.13.jpg and http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x697- inane-hoverfly-bm-MP-03.08.13.jpg. An even larger insect species but using green camouflage and a habit of motionlessness to make themselves almost invisible to our eyes is the Great Green Bush Cricket, seen this week at Durlston and on Hayling and Portsdown by Bob Chapman whose hearing is still youthful enough to retain the ability to hear their loud but very high pitched 'singing' (more properly 'stridulation' generated by raising their wings as if to fly but instead rubbing the wings together - the edge of the left wing has a series of tiny 'teeth' which generate the sound when rubbed against the edge of the right wing - note that in grasshoppers the song is generated by the same technique but the 'pegs' which generate the sound are on the hind leg though the wing edge is still used to 'scrape' them). If you can still hear these sounds go to http://www.pterodaktyl.co.uk/2009/08/11/great-green-bush-crickets/ and click the green arrow to hear a recording of them (I can hear nothing but can get some idea of the sound by going to http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Tettigoniidae and clicking the central button under the SOUNDS heading.) To end this round up I have a mixed bag of four observations. First was an unexpected sighting of a Great Diving Beetle seen by Bob Chapman in the section of Farlington Marshes north of the A27 on July 25 - the beetle was in the water trough put there for the cattle which Bob was checking. Next day (July 26) Bob was on Hayling and not only saw a Great Green Bush Cricket but also found Sea Holly in flower at Sandy Point (for Bob's blog covering these see http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/2013/08/03/a-hectic-week-and-a-small- triumph/. The third of my mixed bag came from the Isle of Wight and was a mention of three Red Squirrels seen at Binstead on Aug 3 - it caught my attention after having heard on the radio that the Red Squirrels that are still present on the Island (where there are no Grey Squirrels) are declining in number and may become extinct (not sure how valid this is). Finally a comment from Durlston where on July 31 a Roe Deer buck had his full head of antlers (which I suspect has been the case for some time now)

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JULY 29 - AUG 4 (WEEK 31 OF 2013) Thu 1 Aug Swifts over Chichester and Butterflies in Havant Thicket Nothing very exciting to report in the first half of this week but I should mention that I went to Langstone Pond at sunset on July 30 in the hope of getting a count of the roosting Egrets which I reckoned would have had time to go out fishing in the four hours between a neap high tide of only 4.2 metres at 17:02 and sunset at 20:53 but when I arrived at 20:20 the tide was only just starting to fall and the trees around the pond were crammed with Egrets - I had forgotten that during Neap tides the water level remains much the same throughout the day and does not surge rapidly up and down as it does during spring tides. I made an attempt to count the birds already present (getting a total of 41 which I knew to be an under count because of the difficulty of seeing all the possible perches) and I went home at 21:00 having only seen 4 birds fly in. My total of 45 was not much more than a daytime count of 30+ by Peter Raby next morning when a lot of the hungry birds would have been away catching their breakfast. I have not seen any more Swifts over Havant since last Sunday (Jul 28) and am pretty certain that any birds that nested here have now left their nests, hopefully with a few fledged young, but the last Swift is not likely to leave Britain until early September and I saw around two dozen Swifts catching insects over Chichester this morning (Aug 1). Also seen in today's heat wave were six butterfly species in my garden - newly emerged Comma and Peacock, probable migrant Large and Small Whites, numerous Gatekeepers and a single Holly Blue. The Comma and Peacock were both nectaring on Buddleia flowers to stoke up for the long sleep until next spring when it is their turn to breed, the whites were occasionally stopping to take nectar to keep them going on their endless journey (or, if they were female and had already achieved the only purpose of their journey by finding a male and mating, making very brief stops to lay eggs on suitable foodplants), and the Gatekeeper and Holly Blue were chasing the same objectives in a localised area. From the internet I have learnt of the great variety of butterflies to be seen locally in the Havant Thicket area where 18 species were seen by one observer on July 29, including 2 Purple Emperors, 5 White Admirals, 12 Silver Washed Fritillaries (probably in the Hammonds Land Coppice south of Havant Thicket) and 2 Purple Hairstreaks (probably in the Bells Copse area where the Emperors also hang out). Other butterfly news is of the first Queen of Spain Fritillary in Britain this year - this one was seen in the Chalton area north of Rowlands Castle on July 27 (a few years ago a female migrant stopped to lay eggs in woods close to Chichester, and in due time fresh young of the species emerged to the delight of local butterfly enthusiasts). Less exciting has been the emergence of the summer brood of Common Blues (very few in number this year) but of more interest has been the sighting (on July 29) on the Isle of Wight of the first Glanville Fritillary since June 7, showing that this species is having a good year and producing a second brood which it does not do in most years. A few Painted Ladies have been seen this week including one locally somewhere along the Hayling Billy track, and this led me to look at my records for this year of the two classic butterfly migrants (Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow). It has been a very poor year for Clouded Yellow so far with just one small influx of migrants in the second half of June - I have not even heard any news of the resident colony on the cliffs at Bournemouth. Painted Ladies have been a little more numerous starting with a small surge of migrants arriving in the first half of January before a more substantial wave arrived in the second half of June. A few have been seen in each month other than February (March produced just one record of two seen in the Scillies on Mar 30) but those appearing in between the main influxes may well have been from eggs laid here by previous migrants. Before I post this entry which I am still writing on Friday Aug 2 I have to add that as the hot sun eventually broke through the clouds after lunch today I went into my garden to have a look at a mass of white butterflies attracted to the Cats Ear flowers covering my lawn - they were of interest but the excitment came when I looked at a Buddliea which had two Painted Ladies on the same flower spike and when I took my eyes off them it was to see an unmistakeable Clouded Yellow flying past at high speed without stopping. I strongly suspect that a serious influx of both species may have just started as I see that 16 Painted Ladies were seen at Seaford this morning. Further evidence comes from the Sussex Butterfly website reporting 3 more Clouded Yellows in Sussex yesterday with another two seen near Peacehaven today Turning to recent bird news I see that Black Terns have started to appear on the south coast (one at Dungeness on July 28 followed by 33 there on July 30 when a single Sooty Shearwater was also present). Among the larger shorebirds arriving back were Common Gulls with a flock of 40 (plus 25 Lesser Blackbacks) seen in the Fishbourne Channel near Chichester on July 28 while over in the Netherlands 6683 Lesser Blackbacks were seen on July 30. Waders are also back in force with counts of 600 Dunlin on the Lymington shore and 141 Lapwing at the Blashford Lakes. A couple of less expected birds on the Lymington shore have been a Caspian Tern and a Lesser Yellowlegs (though I think this was a remote second-hand id from a photo). Over on the Isle of Wight Sanderling have started to return with 5 on the Ryde east sands on July 26. Oddities of interest have been a Great White Egret seen near Bournemouth and Blandford in Dorset on July 27 and a Mongolian Sand Plover in Ireland (a first for that country) on July 28 - I have not mastered the differences between the various Sand Plover races but if you want to see what this one looked like go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAr2IdQ11TI&feature=youtu.be. If this is the race which I know as Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus) I have a personal interest as I was present (with Alistair Martin) at Church Norton on 14 Aug 1997 when we saw an unusual plover which was subsequently claimed to be the first Lesser (as opposed to Greater) Sand Plover for Britain. Just one item of botanic news has caught my attention this week - a sighting of a Narrow-lipped Helleborine in full flower with some excellent photos to allow us to share in the thrill of the sight. This plant was only brought to my attention as a result of a bird twitch which drew Matt Eade from Seaford in Sussex to the Rudyard Reservoir near Leek in Staffordshire in the hope of seeing a Caspian Tern. You can follow Matt's account and see his photos of the orchid, taken at a site in the Chilterns on his way back to Sussex, at http://seafordbirding.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/double-tick-day-staffs-oxon- 29713.html. Since this trip to Staffs I see that his current blog (http://seafordbirding.blogspot.co.uk/) also has photos of another uncommon Helleborine Epipactis phyllanthes which has various names but which I think is nowadays most commonly called the Green-flowered Helleborine which he saw yesterday (Aug 1) near Storrington in the Pulborough area. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JULY 22 - 28 (WEEK 30 OF 2013) Sun 28 July A few new flowers on Hayling This morning I headed for Hayling to see if I could see any of the Slender Thistles which I mentioned yesterday as being a species I was unaware of - if you glance down to yesterday's entry now you will see that I have apologised for misleading anyone and I have now partially recovered from this attack of senile dementia after today finding the shrivelled husks of Slender Thistle plants on the north shore of Stoke Bay, the southern boundary of the Oysterbeds. My first new flower today was in the Lymbourne Stream alongside Wade Court grounds just before the stream turns away from the Billy Trail - this was Lesser Water Parsnip (Berula erecta) - and my second was seen in the gounds of the Langstone Sailing Club just before reaching Langstone Bridge proper - this time it was Blue Fleabane. Reaching Hayling I began to see Mugwort in flower, the bright white buds having opened to reveal the tiny brown flowers which make it look as if the plant is dying. After passing the Oysterbeds and continuing south along the Coastal Path to the point at which it comes right alongside the harbour shore I stopped to look into the field which was earlier filled with a pond and here, on the north side of what was the pond, Dyer's Greenweed was well out (none south of the pond this year). Just beyond this point I hoped to find Pepper- Saxifrage but there was no sign of it yet. Similarly I hoped to see growth of Slender Hare's Ear plants in the Saltmarsh Lane wetland area but had no luck there though I did tick off my first Fennel in flower. Back in Havant, as I was about to turn off the Billy Trail into Grove Road, I remembered that it was some time since I had seen Danewort flowers in bud by the Lymbourne Triangle so I did an about-turn to see how they were doing and found the buds had already become seeds, though with buds of more flowers to come. This brought today's total of 'my first flowers for the year' to six. Back in my garden I happened to see a single Swift fly low overhead giving reasonable evidence that the local breeding birds have not yet left. Also in the garden piercing 'squeaks' coming fron several directions suggested that a family of Dunnocks were making their first foray into the world outside their nest and this ties in with several recent sightings of an adult Dunnock searching for food in the garden - last night, not for the first time recently I heard the bird give a short snatch of its song. Sat 27 July 1Mini-Summary for July 25 - 27

CORRECTION AND APOLOGY The entry below refers to SLENDER THISTLE as a species that I was not previously aware of and which I was keen to find. This is rubbish and a blatant symptom of senile dementia on my part, though I think I was misled by the Durlston Ranger's Diary entry for July 27 which says .. "Some really tall and impressive flowers along the path with Slender Thistle (very thin, tall and spiny), Slender Thistle was (a) a newly flowering species and (b) was unusually tall, being mentioned in conjunction with the huge Woolly Thistle. Having this image of a tall plant in mind I was further misled by the photos of Slender Thistle which I looked at and recommended to your attention, but the fault is still mine for not interpreting those photos in the light of the detailed measurements given in Stace's Flora. Slender Thistle can be found in many colonies around Langstone Harbour and I first saw it on May 29 this year but by now the plants are not only past flowering but are mainly 'withered corpses'. My apologies if I have misled anyone into searching for this 'new species' as I myself did on Sunday after writing the entry below on Saturday

In addition to latest news of incipient autumn bird passage and high summer butterflies (including a chance find by Ivan Lakin - one time Portsmouth birder - of a rare migrant Long-tailed Blue butterfly in his south Devon kitchen). If you are not familiar with this species see http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=boeticus. Another bit of interesting news was a summary of this year's breeding success by Choughs in Cornwall and on another tack I was prompted by news of Slender Thistle flowering at Durlston to learn about this uncommon coastal plant which may still grow on the shores of Langstone Harbour and to refresh my knowledge of the differences between Welted and Musk Thistles. Working through the insect news for the past few days we start with beetles - Lesser Stag Beetles were seen on Hayling and on Portsdown on July 23, a Strangalia maculata Longhorn was enjoying the nectar on Hogweed at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on July 24 and 19 Glow Worms were seen at Durlston on July 26 by a night time walk party - by day Great Geen Bush Crickets could be heard there. Turning to butterflies the first south coast Silver Spotted Skippers were seen at Broughton Down near Stockbridge on July 24 (effectively the first though one had been reported at the same site back on July 4) and others followed on the Sussex Downs on July 25 and further east in that county on July 26 near Friston Forest. Another fresh appearance has been that of summer brood Holly Blues with one at Pamber Forest in north Hants on July 24 then one at Hill Head near Titchfield Haven on July 25 and one in my Havant garden on July 26. Summer brood Peacocks are now emerging, giving a count of 15 at Old Winchester Hill in the Meon valley on July 25 (as I write this on July 27 one has sought refuge from the rain by flying into my house and the fresh colours of two others attracted attention at Emsworth yesterday when a total of 18 were seen near Lymington). A less common species, Wood White, made its summer appearance on the Sussex/Surrey border on July 24. Graylings, not currently new, are flourishing with 30 being found enjoying fresh Bell Heather at Browndown near Gosport on July 25. I guess the Bell Heather will also be flowering on south Hayling but I suspect Graylings will be fewer there and certainly not as friendly as was reported by a Sussex observer who wrote that on July 26 .."The Graylings of Deep Dean/Dene are out and about in good numbers. I saw about 20-25 there today. They are very friendly/inquisitive. One settled on my knee, two settled on my rucksack, and one investigated the sandwich I was eating." Returning to the subject of butterfly abberrations I learnt something else from a contribution to the Hampshire Butterfly News of July 24 by Andy Barker who said .. "Having seen Robert Guest's photo on Saturday of a Ringlet (ab. arete) with underside eye-spots reduced to white dots, we were pleased to come across one of our own on Sunday at Humbers Wood, near King's Somborne. The one we saw was rather worn, and was getting hassled by other Ringlets. My understanding is that prolonged hot weather can cause aberrations by over- heating pupae in exposed positions. If this is the case, perhaps we should be on the look out for more aberrations.". I also acquired some local Havant area knowledge about Purple Emperors from Barry Collins who saw two Empeors in the Bells Copse area (south west corner of Havant Thicket) and commented .. "one flew around me a few times attracted to my white T- shirt and almost landed on me before flying into some sallows, the other one landed high in an oak tree. This is the 4th consecutive year I have recorded this species at Bell's Copse (SU7010)." Barry also confirmed my impression that an exceptional number of Gatekeepers were active there that day - he estimated seeing 200. Before getting on to Thistles a few items of bird news caught my eye starting with a sighting on July 26 of four Hawfinch at Kingley Vale, north of Chichester, where I have not heard of them before so I guess this may have been a family party looking for a new home. More expected were 38 Greenshank at Farlington Marshes, also seen on July 26 when a Great White Egret was at the Testwood Lakes near Southampton and four more Crossbills flew over Southsea heading south west. Further west 20 Crossbills went over Durlston that day and even further west six went south over Truro while another five were also going south over Folkestone. Adult Cuckoos are still being seen at Bembridge (IoW) and at Portland where small numbers of Sedge and Willow Warblers, three Lesser Whitethroats plus single Wheatear, Blackcap, Grasshopper and Garden Warblers were present. Christchurch Harbour added a single Yellow Wagtail to the species already moving south. Probably not intending to leave the country were a small flock of a dozen Mistle Thrush seen near Walderton in the Ems Valley on Jul 24 but definitely already on the move and just looking for a bed for the night were 208 Common Terns which came to the regular 'boarding house' near the mouth of Langstone Harbour that evening. Two other birds on unpredictable journeys that day were a White-tailed Eagle in Essex and a Cattle Egret in Kent. Now for the Thistles which I took an interest in as a result of seeing that Slender Thistle (Carduus tenuiflorus) was flowering at Durlston. Not being previously aware of this species I found that it is locally frequent all round the England but is usually only found on the coast, and the distribution map in the Hants Flora showed that there were records from all round the shores of Langstone Harbour among other places but I suspect that these are old records. The species is listed in Pete Durnell's Wildlife of Hayling but with no hint as to where or when to find it. So all I can do is to make some notes on how to recognize it if I do come across it. It has some similarities to the very common Marsh Thistle in that it is erect, tall, has spines all up the stem and has clusters of small flower heads at the top but Marsh Thistle is normally much taller (up to 2 metres) and has much smaller flowers. Much more likely to be mistaken for Slender are Welted and Musk Thistles and for a general impression of the differences between these three see http://www.aphotoflora.com/d_carduus_tenuiflorus_slender_thistle.html. This shows you a photo of the species with a list of other views to the left of the photo - to see the other photos move the cursor over the description of the view you want and it will appear without any clicking. What's more, if you want to see a similar set of photos of the other two confusion species you just click the green button saying 'BACK' to the top right of the photo. This gives you a list of species name with a single photo of each, and moving the cursor over a name and single clicking takes you to a set of photos for that species. Having mastered the technigue of selecting pictures have a look at the bottom two photos of Slender Thistle (whole plant images) and I think you will have little doubt that you would not confuse this species with any other that has been mentioned. FRI 26 July Havant Thicket and Portsdown Hill Yesterday (Jul 25) I had a walk round Havant Thicket to look for Dwarf Gorse and Devil's Bit Scabious, being successful in seeing just one Dwarf Gorse bush with fresh flowers (but growing on the far side of a barbed wire fence which prevented a photo) and in finding one cluster of Devil's Bit Scabious plants but with no hint of any flowers. This poor showing was more than made up for by the unexpected observations, chief of which was the extremely unexpected find of Bog Pimpernel (Anagallis tenella) flowering at approx SU 713106 beside one of the drier rides where a little water happens to ooze from the ground. The photo below failed to record the normal pink tinge to the flowers but that was as much to do with the drought conditions as my lack of photographic skill. Incidentally this is the site at which, in July 2009, John Norton found the very rare and difficult to spot Chaffweed (Anagallis minima) and enabled me to see it for the first and last time in my life!

The distinctive Bog Pimpernel leaves which attracted my attention and the less obvious flowers. The pine trees to the north of the Anagallis site had another surprise - unseen Crossbills whose 'Chip, chip' calls told me they were there. Another less certain bird 'identification by call' in this area was of a possible Marsh Tit - I don't think the 'Pit-chou' calls could have come from any other species. Yet another noteworthy observation in this same ride was of my first White Admiral for the year which sailed by without the Royal handwave I felt entitled to as a humble human vassal. Butterflies were a major feature of this visit, mainly for the vast number of Gatekeepers eveywhere I went but also because of the proof these Gatekeepers gave me of my statement in my previous entry that it is not unusual to find find 'sub-sized' butterflies. Although none of them stopped long enough to be measured I certainly had the impression that many of the Gatekeepers were smaller than usual - in fact I used my binoculars to confirm that one which had settled on the ground some distance away was not a Hairstreak (as its apparent size suggested) and at another point one among a cluster all round me seemed to be a good size bigger than all the rest. Not many different species were seen but I did note Large and Small Whites, Brimstones, Ringlets and Small Skippers as well as the White Admiral. Two more plants went on my personal first flowering list, one was Betony, the other Cross-leaved Heath. One other plant and two birds deserve a mention: Eyebright - the first I have seen this summer - and a Skylark in full song over the Gipsies Plain plus a Blackcap in the denser trees making me wonder if it was already moving south and was unfamiliar with this area but thought it worth using its song to tell any other Blackcaps that might be present that it would welcome their company on its journey. This morning (Jul 26) I had an appointment for an annual eye check up at the Q A Hospital (no problem with my eyes but an annual check is made on all those who have had cataract ops and I have had the lenses of both eyes replaced after having a detached retina repaired in 2001 - I strongly recommend the NHS treatment!) and I took the opportunity to park on the Mill Lane roadside immediately west of Fort Widley and then make my way downhill through the wild flowers before joining the Southwick Hill Road just above the hospital entrance. Before even reaching the Hill Top road I was thrilled with the glorious sight of more than 100 tiny but brilliantly colourful Lesser Centaury in flower - so small that a non-naturalist would walk over the area without even seeing them but so powerful an attraction to a botanist that just one of them will bring him to his knees before he prostrates himself to look at the stem below the flower held (at this site) less than 1 cm above the ground - the reason he does this is that the distinction between Centaury and Lesser Centaury is that the Lesser has at least 1mm of bare stalk below the base of the flower calyx and the bracts (looking like small leaves clasping the stem). This can be seen in http://www.floralimages.co.uk/page.php?taxon=centaurium_pulchellum,1&ad=2. If you want to enjoy these plants go to the Mill Lane parking area and then walk towards Fort Widley on the grass until you come to a bench seat below the vehicle turnround circle. Sitting on this bench you can see an isolated small tree on the far side of the road below you. Now walk downhill towards this tree until bare chalk appears at your feet and you will find the plants widely scattered in small groups growing on the bare chalk. The other plants attracting my attention before reaching the Southwick Hill Road included lots of Burnet Saxifrage and Wild Parsnip, my first Wild Basil and Harebells (though the latter have been out for some time) plus Tansy flowers in bud and Nettle Leaved Bellflower fully out. Back at home in Havant before leaving I watched three Swifts dive to their Manor Close nests (so they are still here) and after returning home in the heat of the day I watched my first summer brood Holly Blue in the garden (which reminds me that I saw my belated first Chalkhill Blue on Portsdown this morning). Wed 24 July Mid-week update This entry is a first attempt since ending my 'Weekly Summary' page at maintaining my interest in the wider wildlife scene along the south coast without the pressure of e.g. trying to list every moth and dragonfly species which had been reported as new during the week, and publishing the result to the deadline of being available each Monday morning. This time I propose to note the news items which interest me each day and to try to embellish these bare bones of news with a little research aimed at satisfying my own curiosity about the aspects of the news which add to my own knowledge of the species concerned. Publishing the results twice a week should give me time for my research without allowing the original news to become stale, but I stress that I am only just starting to experiment with finding a satisfactory format. Highlights of bird news which interest me are the ongoing reports of Crossbills on the move across southern England, the autumn movements of Little Egrets, and the appearance of increasing numbers of Yellow-Legged Gulls. Insect news catching my attention has been the emergence of Summer Chafers, the variation in size that can be found between otherwise identical butterflies, and the emergence of high summer butterfly species. Wild flower news is in short supply while the current drought persists but on July 23 Golden Samphire had opened its flowers on the Langstone South Moors shore and at Rye Harbour. Another species now starting to flower, although I have not yet seen it, is Betony. Crossbill irruption? Crossbills got into the Hampshire bird news on July 11 with a couple appearing out of context over Sway village and a group of five over the Waterlooville built up area. One was still in the Sway area on July 12 and five flew west over Romsey on July 13 After five more sightings of small groups in unexpected places July 22 brought a flock of around 60 to Warren Heath at Bramshill in north Hampshire (with that flock increasing to around 100 by July 24) and on July 23 a single bird appeared in the HWT HQ site at Botley. Maybe that bird was hoping to be granted asylum but on July 21 down in St Leonard's (Hastings) one bird went even further - it flew in through an open door to a ground floor room and perched on the TV. Interestingly all these reports other than the Bramshill one are from near the south coast and the only other recent Crossbill reports in Sussex were of birds near the coast and flying north (8 at Rye on July 13 and several north over Church Norton in Pagham Harbour on July 21) so maybe we are seeing a minor invasion of birds from the continent (not a massive invasion across the North Sea). Reports of a flock of up to 7 Two-barred Crossbills in Norfolk on July 20 to July 22 are the only recent contribution from the RBA website. Little Egrets on the move. It is clear that large numbers of Little Egrets must have crossed the sea to reach us over the years but they never seem to feature in reports from the main sites for bird arrivals and departures. I suspect that there are two reasons for this - Egrets are notoriously 'independent thinkers' not known for operating in flocks or for acting in a manner that is predictable to us humans, while the second reason is that their white plumage is remarkably good camouflage when flying in cloudy or misty conditions and if flying at any height they probably would not be picked up by sea-watchers concentrating on birds flying low over the sea With this year's juveniles now fledged there have been several reports of Egrets on the move - on July 23 the number at Christchurch Harbour was more than 43 (none had been reported there earlier in July though there is a large breeding colony in nearby Poole Harbour) while at Sandwich Bay, also on July 16, 16 were present before continuing to fly north. Locally I counted at least 67 at Langstone Pond on July 15 and expect the count there to be well over 100 in early September (in 2006 I counted 228 there on Sep 19 and similar numbers (approaching 200) have been present at a separate roost on Thorney Island without causing the Langstone count to diminish). Among other shore birds now being reported in increasing numbers is Yellow- Legged Gull, a species that I have never been confident in separating from the various Herring Gull species and from Black-backed Gulls. The trigger for looking into this species was a report of 42 present in Pagham Harbour on July 23 and among the points to look out for are that Yellow-legged adults do indeed have bright yellow legs but the colour of their mantle (closed wings) is not the dark black of a Black-back but closer to the dark grey of a Common Gull. Other points to look out for are a bright yellow bill with a red spot and a red ring aroud the eye. In winter Herring Gulls have varying amounts of dark blotching on the head and neck while Yellow-Legged tend to retain pure white plumage. For a good photo see http://www.coventrybirder.co.uk/images/Yellow%20Legged%20Gull%206276.jpg and for a comparison of Yellow-Legged with Herring and Lesser Blackback see http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/categories/articleitem.asp?item=738 while anyone wanting to explore all twelve 'species' of Herring Gull try http://gull- research.org/papers/gullpapers1/2010-Herring%20Gulls-Springer%20Verlag.pdf. If, after studying the features of the adult gulls, you feel you have cracked the id problem have a look at http://www.devonbirds.org/images/cache/ce63083bb611f6b635f10e44f4dc7420.jp g which shows an immature Yellow-legged Gull with pink legs and whose plumage contradicts all the rules for identifying adults. Among miscellaneous bird news for July 21 I see that Dungeness reported one juvenile Little Tern making me wonder if this will be the only juvenile of the species to be seen on the south coast this summer - it probably came from one of the east coast sites where Little Tern still breeds. July 23 brought a report from Littlehampton of Black Headed Gulls feeding on 'Cockchafers' following reports on the previous two days of gulls 'anting' over Shoreham and Bognor. My interest in the Littlehampton report was that the observer did not seem to be aware that Cockchafers (which are often called May Bugs) are on the wing between April and the end of June while the similar but smaller bugs now being seen in the evening sky are Summer Chafers which fly from June to August. In looking up the dates and details I discovered that Maybugs vary in number from year to year because the larvae have a variable development time underground. For details of their complex life cycle see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockchafer which tells us that mated females lay eggs in the soil, grubs hatch in a month or so but remain in the ground , feeding on plant roots, for three to five years and emerge as mature insects in the autumn of the final year, only to burrow back underground for the coming winter before emerging for mating in the coming spring. In normal weather conditions their life style results in us seeing lots of May Bugs in one year then having to wait up to four years before a similar number take to the air. For details of the Summer Chafer now being eaten by gulls see http://www.uksafari.com/summerchafers.htm. Another surprise from the world of butterflies can be seen in a photo taken at Brook Meadow in Emsworth this week - see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x705-green-veined-mating- 23.07.13.jpg which shows a pair of Green-veined Whites locked together while mating - the surprise is that the female of the pair is half the size of the male. I am aware that such size variations can occur and are not limited to specific species and my understanding is that if the food being eaten by the caterpillar of the species runs out, as in a drought or if, having eaten all the leaves of the plant on which it has been feeding, the caterpillar cannot find an alternate food source within 'walking distance', the caterpillar does not die of hunger but closes down its development and pupates. Metamorphosis adapts to the material available and produces a fully working, but under-sized, adult butterfly. My final comment today is on the competitive 'Hants vs Sussex' Butterfly Race organised for July 19 to attract attention to 'Big Butterfly Count' planned for July 20 to Aug 11 and organized by the national Butterfly Conservation Trust to increase interest among the general public in butterflies and the need to protect their habitats. The rules of the race were set out in a 'mission statement' which you can see at http://www.hantsiow- butterflies.org.uk/news/Butterfly%20Race/race.pdf and I learnt the result (a win for the Sussex team led by Nick Baker by 28 species to 26 for the Hampshire team led by Matthew Oates) from Colin Knight (one of the Sussex team) in his blog entry at http://colinknight.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/butterfly-drive.html. Debbie Tann, CEO of the Hampshire Wildlife Trust, travelled with the Sussex Team acting as adjudicator, and has written by far the best accouny of their day lively account of their day (which included a near death? skid of their vehicle across the motorway) at http://ceohiwwt.wordpress.com/2013/07/20/butterfly-madness/ and Patrick Barkham, Guardian journalist and a member of the Sussex team wrote up his account of the day at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jul/19/butterflies-obsessives-elusive- purple-emperor - this includes a nice photo of a Purple Emperor and tells us that Matthew Oates was feeling pleased after seeing 100 individual Purple Emperors in Northamptonshire earlier in the week but gives us no detail on what they saw during the race. Mon 22 July Purple Emperors are in the news I have been busy for the past few days updating my Cemetery Visits page with details of visits to both Havant and Warblington Cemeteries and to the St Faith's Churchyard in Havant and you can now see my photos and notes by going to http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm and following the links to the latest entries for each of the three sites. Of interest at both Havant Cemetery and St Faith's was the presence of Large Bindweed flowers with 'candy striped petals' seemingly indicating hybridisation with the uncommon Hairy Bindweed. Best find at St Faith's was my first Burnet Saxifrage in flower, while at Warblington the sowing of 'wildflower' seed is now producing a massive display of colour among which I found a genuine local wildflower in the shape of Small-flowered Cranesbill. Also seen there was a reminder that the heatwave cannot last for ever - one Holly tree was laden with berries, albeit still green! I have also been catching up with local news among which was a mention on Brian Fellows' blog that some Butterfly enthusiasts had appeared on South Today TV on Friday evening (July 19) but had given Brian the impression that they had failed to see the Purple Emperors that they were supposedly looking for. As this seemed unlikely I tried to unearth the results of their endeavour and in doing so I found their 'mission statement', which you can see at http://www.hantsiow- butterflies.org.uk/news/Butterfly%20Race/race.pdf, and also evidence from other people's sightings that we live in close proximity to at least three hot spots for seeing the Emperors (Havant Thicket, Southleigh Forest and Stansted Forest) with many other good sites for them within easy travel distance in both Hampshire and Sussex. The reason for the TV appearance on July 19 was to help launch a national 'Big Butterfly Count' aimed, like the RSPB Garden Birdwatch which takes place evey January, at getting the public familiar with butterflies by urging them to report all the butterfly species they see in the period July 20 to Aug 11. To find out more and how to participate go to http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/about. The event which was reported on South Today was a contest between Hampshire and Sussex to see which had the most to offer in the way of butterflies. Two teams, one from each county, set out together from a pub at Bosham (Chichester Harbour) at 8am, the Sussex team heading for Hampshire and the Hampshire team staying in Sussex, to log all the butterflies they found before returning to Bosham with their results at 6pm. Full details of the race are set out in the 'mission statement' mentioned above. I am very surprised that no results have yet appeared on either the Hampshire or Sussex Butterfly Conservation websites but considering the favourable weather I would guess that few of the species currently on the wing will have been missed by the experts. One species which regularly appears in Sussex before it is seen in Hampshire is the Grayling and this might have given Sussex an advantage so I am pleased to see that the first Grayling was not reported to have been seen in Sussex until July 20, and even more pleased to see that the first were seen in Hampshire (at Browndown near Gosport) on July 16! The species mentioned by Brian Fellows as not being seen by the competing teams (or at least not mentioned in the TV slot) was Purple Emperor which has been on the wing since July 1 (Buckinghamshire), July 10 (Surrey), July 11 (Hampshire) and July 12 (Sussex though the Susssex website records the July 10 sighting in Tugley Wood/Botany Bay near Chiddingfold in Surrey as if it were their county first). In our local Havant area four Emperors were seen in Southleigh Forest on July 20 and one had been seen there on July 12 around the same tree where it was seen in the previous year) and two were seen at that tree on July 13. Also close to Havant two Emperorors were seen in Havant Thicket on July 19 (when more than 30 were reported from Bentley Wood near Stockbridge). By July 20 one observer claimed to have seen 54 Emperors in the Alice Holt Forest near Farnham. Another butterfly of interest recently has been the Monarch which will have flown, or been blown, across the Atlantic. Clearly a butterfly that can make that sort of journey could well move about after arriving here so some of the ten recorded sightings in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between June 4 (one at Lee on the Solent near Gosport) and July 20 (at Ashhurst between Southampton and Lyndhurst) may be duplicates. I doubt either team saw one of these on July 19 although one was seen that day at Lymington.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JULY 15 -21 (WEEK 29 OF 2013)

Thu 18 July

A new plant species for me in Emsworth After watching the gruelling Alpe d'Huez stage of the Tour de France while I kept safely out of the sun I got on my bike in the relative cool of the late afternoon to ride to Emsworth in order to add a new species, Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa), to my Botanic Life List. The plants had been found by Brian Fellows on July 10 or earlier and the site is in the extreme southwest corner of the Emsworth Horndean Road recreation ground, beside a footpath which then goes on under the railway to emerge in Washington Road I expect everyone is familiar with Lesser Burdock which grows in bushes that can be over a metre high and which has huge flat-bladed leaves making you wonder if this is the Lesser species how big is the Greater? Well now I know .. the plants which Brian has found stand well over two metres tall and have long stalked flowers as obvious differences from the Lesser species but the botanic distinction is that the stems of the lowest leaves, which are hollow in the Lesser species, are solid in the Greater and I have included a photo showing this clear difference.

Greater Burdock plants well above my 2 metre height.

Long-stalked flowers of Greater Burdock

Sections through basal leaf stems of Greater (solid) and Lesser (hollow) Burdock As a bonus I also found the first flowers of the year on Stone Parsley plants growing close to Glenwood School in Washington Road (photos below) and I think I saw my first Pale Persicaria flowers en route there (but rode on past the plant growing in the roadside gutter without stopping to check for the presence of the diagnostic pale glands on the flower stalks). I also rode past the Narrow- leaved Ash trees in Selagor Avenue after mentally decididing that the Ash tree in St Faith's churchyard, mentioned in Tuesday's diary entry, is not of this Narrow- leaved species. Finally I must correct an error in Monday's entry - I am told that the Slug which I rescued from drowning was a full grown Yellow Slug (Limax flavus) and not a young specimen of Limax maximus - for photos and info see http://idtools.org/id/mollusc/factsheet.php?name=Limacus%20flavus

Stone Parsley plant and close up of one flower umbel. Tue 16 July Last night's Egret count and two walks today Yesterday evening saw me at Langstone Pond a good half hour before sunset and I left twenty minutes after sunset with a count of at least 67 Egrets there for the night. On arrival I could see 29 Egrets already in the trees and this number were slowly increased to 47 soon after sunset with the last 20 arriving as the extremely bright sunset sky faded to near darkness. I am pretty sure that a few were still to arrive after I left. Other items noted at the pond were the first open flowers on Hemp Agrimony and Water Dock. Among the birds were two Tufted Duck (neither of them an obvious male but both were adults). More interesting than these were two young men on mountain bikes who rushed past me several times, each time stopping to search the vegetation and shore around the small bay where the overflow from the Lymbourne Stream, which until recently created a shallow lake in the pony field north of the pond, drained into the harbour. I found out that these two were participating in the world-wide sport of Geo-caching in which people hide small objects in places with public access, then publish clues, including GPS co- ordinates and other enigmatic hints, for anyone who wants to join in the hunt to search for the 'treasure'. The treasure here had, they told me, been found on June 16 but not since, and a clue concerning a 'sleeping giant' meant nothing to them or to me This morning I took my camera to St Faith's Churchyard to collect images for my monthly entry on my Cemeteries Page (which will appear in the next few days) and my pictures include some of the Ash tree which I believe to be a Narrow- leaved Ash but as the clincher in separating it from the Common Ash is that where the Common Ash has black buds from which the Leaves emerge in spring those of the Narrow-leaved tree are brown but this evidence is currently unavailable. I did however get evidence proving that what I thought was my first Burnet Saxifrage was that species, taking a photo of the distinctive basal leaves to prove it. In the afternoon I had to take my car to Kwikfit to get a replacement exhaust and I used the hour of waiting time to walk up the nearby Hermitage Stream through the Stockheath area. The stream gave me my first Purple Loosestrife flowers of the year and also my first Himalayan Balsam. Mon 15 July Yesterday's Slug and today's Cemetery visits Yesterday's Weekly Summary included a mention of finding an impressive slug drowning in water intended for my garden birds but I did not have time to go into detail so today I am starting with three photos showing the slug's recovery from near death by drowning. First we see the slug shortly after being taken out of the water and placed on a board for photographing - here it is already showing signs of life by starting to extend two tentacles. Below that is a shot as it starts to move its body and finally we have an 'all systems go' shot with all four tentacles in operation and its pneumostome (breathing tube) fully open for some necessary deep breathing.

Starting to recover from near death by drowning.

Adult Yellow Slugs measure 75 to 115 mm long).

All systems go with breathing tube fully open and all tentacles extended. For information about this species see http://idtools.org/id/mollusc/factsheet.php?name=Limacus%20flavus which gives all the facts about the Yellow Slug. Today began with three Swifts over the Manor Close area and continued with a walk to Waitrose during which I found my first Sticky Groundsel, Teazel and Fools's Parsley flowers (the latter had obviously been out for some time as it had well developed seed heads) and I made a mental note to try to identify a large yellow flowered shrub peering over the north wall of a Grove Road garden into the private carpark half way along The Twitten. I think I have now tracked this down under the name Fremontodendron (aka Flannel Bush) after General Fremont who discovered it as a wild plant when exploring California. For pictures and more on the plant see http://www.sfbotanicalgarden.org/garden/bloom_07_06.shtml A circuit of St Faith's churchyard gave me two more first flowers - Burnet Saxifrage and Short-fruited Willowherb and allowed me to attach a name to a tree growing on the southern edge of the churchyard as a result of recently tracking down the name of the unusual Ash trees planted alongside Selangor Avenue in Emsworth - this is another of the Narrow-leaved Ash trees (Fraxinus angustifolia) which grow there and are apparently an 'unwanted alien' in Australia where they are known as the Desert Ash and which drink up the little water available in desert areas, killing off native vegetation. After lunch I got on my bike to visit the New Lane Cemetery but as the Level Crossing was closed I took the alternative route via the Rail Station footbridge but when I reached the station I made a worth while further diversion into Havant Park where the grass has not been cut for a while, allowing the Fiddle Dock plants to put up their unmistakable flowering stems in which the flowers are borne on sections held parallel to the ground rather than vertically as in other docks (Stace mentions this saying .. "inflorescence very diffuse with branches spreading at 45 to 90 degrees"). In my photo trying to illustrate this there is too little contrast between the dock plants and the background grass but you can probably see enough to get the idea. If not go and have a look for yourself - in my shot of the site the plants are in the shade of the big Dawn Redwood tree growing beside the Tennis Courts to the left of the path. The station taxi rank through which I entered is on the right of the photo.

Fiddle Dock site, leaf and one of several plants in Havant Park. Going back into the Station area via the brick ramp shown in the site photo above I stopped at the near end of the station building and, just outside the metal grille preventing entry to the station over the small flower bed, I photographed two small Thorn Apple (Datura stramonium) plants. For info on this highly poisonous plant, whose supposed magical properties get it a mention in the Harry Potter books, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_stramonium.

Thorn Apple plants by Havant Rail Station Taxi Rank - one with developing Thorn Apple fruit, the other with unopen trumpet flower. When I eventually reached the Havant Cemetery the only new additions to my species list were Caucasian Stonecrop (Sedum spurium) and several Gatekeeper butterflies plus a tiny blue Damselfly (either Azure or Common Blue) which was unexpected with no water body in the immediate vicinity. One other notable item was that a Chaffinch sang repetitively nearly all the time I was there (I had already written this bird off my song list for the year!). After uploading this diary entry I will be heading for Langstone Pond at sunset to check if the co-incidence of low tide with sunset and good weather gives me a good count of Egrets returning from fishing at the last moment of daylight.

CLOSING DOWN NOTICE

This is the last Weekly Summary that I will produce Later this week I will have my 82nd birthday and I have recently found that the work involved in producing a reasonably accurate and compehensive account of the wildlife observations that have come to my attention during the preceding week to meet a deadline of availability first thing each Monday morning is becoming a strain rather than a pleasure so I have decided to give it up. I will continue my Diary entries and hope to include in them some of the things which I have learnt from other people's observations.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JULY 8 - 14 (WEEK 28 OF 2013)

BIRDS

Bittern: The first report of this species since May 17 comes from Radipole (Weymouth) on July 9 and presumably reflects the early return of a non- or failed breeding bird to their 'winter quarters.

Little Egret: The first sighting of a juvenile away from its nest site comes from Weston Shore on Southampton Water on July 7. This ties in with my own observation, when passing Langstone Pond on July 6 with the tide just beginning to flow from its low point, that there were noticeably fewer Egrets than usual which I take to mean that some of the young birds are now joining their parents on fishing trips - the tide was ideal for learning the art of fishing. Passing the pond again on July 11 with the tide fully up, so no fishing possible in the harbour, I counted a more or less full complement of 51 Egrets (adults + juveniles)

Glossy Ibis: On July 11 one flew south from the Arundel area towards Pagham Harbour

Mute Swan: On July 11 I found that the Swan pair at Budds Farm pools in Havant had four well grown cygnets where I had previously only seen three. I also had a dramatic demonstration of why Swans are flightless at this time of year - the female with the cygnets stood in shallow water and stretched out both wings showing that all here primaries and secondaries had all been discarded simultaneously.

Brent Goose: Three summering Dark Bellied birds were seen in Pagham Harbour on July 9 and another three, also Dark-bellied, were at Ferrybridge (Weymouth) on the same day.

Sparrowhawk: This year's young birds are now on the wing. A photo showing the brown plumage of a young male, taken on July 7, can be seen at http://www.kentos.org.uk/Reculver/images/sparr0713.jpg and on July 11 the Durlston Diary commented on the contrast between the fast direct flight of an adult and the more uncertain flight of a juvenile.

Kestrel: Juvenile Kestrels are now out and when I was at the Langstoone South Moors on July 11 one was calling continuously for about an hour as it clung to the power cable posts.

Dunlin: The first returning birds are now starting to appear in their summer plumage - on July 12 a group of three were seen at Farlington Marshes and next day a different group of three were at Cuckmere Haven near Beachy Head. Also on July 13 there were 19 at Rye Harbour.

Ruff: Two were on the Lymington shore on July 11 and on July 12 one was in Poole Harbour.

Whimbrel: These are now appearing all along the coast - on July 8 one was in Southampton Water, on July 9 2 were at Portland and 4 in Pagham Harbour, on July 10 Christchurch Harbour had a flock of 12, on July 11 one was at Portland and one on the Langstone Pond shore and on July 12 a total of 8 were spread across four Dorset sites.

Redshank: Rye Harbour had 43 on July 13

Greenshank: Farlington Marshes had the most with 11 on July 12

Med Gull: These are having their annual equivalent of Glastonbury Festival at a pig farm at Sopley (on the Hampshire side of the Avon south of Ringwood - up to 540 have been counted there between July 6 and 12. Back in 2009 they held their summer get together at Badminston Common near the mouth of Southampton Water with a peak of 124 birds. In 2011 they assembled at Christchurch Harbour (178 birds on July 26) and in 2012 a flooded Maize field at Sidlesham (Pagham) was the place to be with 482 counted on July 20 before they headed fro the Fishbourne Channel near Chichester (433 on Aug 14)

Black Tern: Last week I thought that a report of one in Germany on July 6 was a sign of return passage starting and this week one was seen at Abbotsbury in Dorset on July 11 with what may have been the same bird at Weymouth on July 12.

Black Guillemot: A single 'unseasonable' Tystie was seen off Portland on July 12

Cuckoo: Juveniles were being fed by Meadow Pipit foster parents at Farlington Marshes and in the New Forest on July 12 when there were still several adults at Rye Harbour (six adults were at Sandwich Bay on July 7).

Swift: Until this week I was convinced that none were nesting in Havant this year but on July 12 I twice watched a pair diving down into a group of houses (where they disappeared) which have in the past had Swifts breeding in artificial nests. Watching those houses in the early morning and evening I have seen two of more birds on both July 13 and 14 (this morning there were six birds involved). This must mean that they have chicks that now need to be fed and will hopefully fledge.

Kingfisher: Juveniles of the first brood, which are evicted by their parents as soon as they fledge, are now starting to arrive at coastal sites and a photo of a juvenile taken on the north Kent coast on July 7, can be seen at http://www.kentos.org.uk/Reculver/images/kingf0713_000.jpg. This shows the tiny white tip to the bill which is a juvenile feature but th ephoto hides the main distinction - the legs and feet of the young are greyish where those of an adult are orange. Although I do not have dates for any local sightings I was told on July 11 by the owner of a house at Langstone, through whose garden the Langbrook stream runs under a small arched bridge, that Kingfishers use it for fishing all round the year and I suspect this means that he has seen one fairly recently and that it would have been a juvenile. I have not heard of one being seen in the Langstone/Havant area since Feb 24 (on the Brockhampton stream passing Budds Farm) and the last I know of on the River Ems was seen on Apr 6 at Westbourne

Dunnock: These are still singing daily, along with Whitethroat, Chiff Chaff, Blackcap, Wood Pigeon and Collared Dove. Blackbird and Chaffinch were singing at the start of this week but have not been heard in the last few very hot days and it is over a week since I heard a Song Thrush while I have not heard a Robin since June 3. I mentioned Dunnock as it remains the most frequent singer but I see that last year I did not hear one after July 13.

Whinchat: The first autumn bird to reach the coast on its way south may have been Whinchat seen at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight on July 1

Crossbill: Eight reports of small groups on the move this week may be just post breeding dispersal in this country but a single report of a Two-barred Crossbill in County Durham on July 7 may mark the start of an irruption of Scandinavian birds into this country.

Vagrant: On July 5 an Ascension Frigatebird (only the second ever for the UK) was seen on the Scottish western isle of Islay

INSECTS Dragonflies:

Black Darter: The only new species to be reported this week was Black Darter seen at Thursley in Surrey on July 8.

Gold Ringed Dragonfly: Not new but this account of a sighting may be of interest. It comes fromCaephilly in Wales on July 12 and says .. " A Gold Ringed dragonfly flew into the garden and I was distracted by its distinctive markings and its amazing ability to turn through 180 degrees instantaneously. It flew past the hole in the garden wall from which Wasps regularly come and go, then performed one of these instant turns and alighted on the washing line post. I moved in closer for a better look, expecting it to fly off. Instead, it remained on the line post and was struggling to restrain something with its two front legs. I moved closer still and saw that it was holding a wasp. The dragonfly turned the wasp so that they were "face-to-face". Without any further ado, the dragonfly started to eat the wasp head first! It carried on eating until there was only the tiniest bit of wasp abdomen left, the part containing the sting, and flew off dropping the last piece of unwanted wasp as he did so."

Butterflies:

Lulworth Skipper: First report from Durlston on July 13.

Silver Spotted Skipper: First seen at Broughton Down near Stockbridge on July 4 - no subsequent reports so far.

Purple Emperor: Five reports since July 10 when one was seen at Tugley Woods near Chiddingfold in Surrey where several were seen in the Botany Bay area on July 11. One lucky observer was working at home on July 12 when an Emperor landed on his open window (somewhere in Sussex) and allowed itself to be photographed. Also on July 12 one was seen locally in the Southleigh Woods at SU 743087 (300 metres due north of where Hollybank Lane meets the Emsworth Common Road). Nationally the first was seen in Buckinghamshire on July 1.

Silver Washed Fritillary: Nationally the first were seen in both Sussex and Wiltshire on June 2

White Admiral: Nationally the first were seen in Hampshire (Alice Holt Forest) on June 19

Gatekeeper: Nationally the first was seen in Derbyshire on June 26. In Hampshire the first was in a Locksheath garden near Fareham on July 6 and the fourth report came from Havant Thicket on July 13. In Sussex the first was seen near Eastbourne on July 9

Chalkhill Blue: Nationally the first was in Surrey on July 7. In Sussex they were out at Southwater Woods (Horsham) on July 12 and in Hampshire at Magdalen Hill Down (Winchester) on July 10.

Other Insects Long-legged Fly (Poecilobothrus nobilitatus): See http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/7/10/dance-of-the-flies.html

Horntail (Urocerus gigas): On July 9 Brian Fellows included in his Emsworth blog (http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-wildlife-diary.htm) a photo of one of these 'monster insects' that had been taken at Bentley Wood on the Hants/Wilts border near Stockbridge. The insect was found on a wooden bench seat and this reminds me that, as the larva of this huge Sawfly can spend up to 3 years in the pine tree in which the mother laid her egg before emerging as an adult, it is not unknown for adults to emerge from furniture after the tree in which they were developing has been cut down and sawn into sections which are then used to construct furniture without disrupting the life of the larva. Maybe this individual had just emerged from the wooden seat on which it was found

Tibellus oblongus spider: A distinctive and relatively common grassland species found at Farlington Marshes on July 10 - see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/tibellus-oblongus.jpg. This spider does not spin a web but lies stretched out along a blade of grass waiiting to ambush prey.

PLANTS Rockrose: Starting to flower in Portsdown on July 9 after being found at Coulters Dean Bank near Buriton on July 6

Enchanter's Nightshade: General flowering started in Havant and Emsworth on July 11

Upright Hedge Parsley (Torilis japonica): First seen flowering on Portsdown on July 9

Wild Parsnip: Also first flowers on Portsdown on July 9

Knotgrass: General flowering started from July 9

Redshank: First flowers in Havant on July 11

Wild Privet: General flowering on Portsdown on July 9

Vervain: First flowers on Portsdown on July 9

Basil Thyme: This beauty was out on Portsdown on July 9 - see http://ralph- hollins.net/Diary.htm#0907

Hoary Plantain: Flowering on Portsdown on July 9

Field Scabious: Flowering on Portsdown on July 9

Marsh Ragwort: First seen at Langstone South Moors on July 11

Hoary Ragwort: A single early specimen starting to flower in Havant on July 11 Woolly Thistle: Flowering at Durlston on July 11

Dwarf Thistle: First flower on Portsdown on July 11

Musk Thistle: First flower on Portsdown on July 11

Greater Burdock: This is a plant which I have never seen but on July 10 Brian Fellows found several growing together in at Washington Road in Emsworth. See entries for July 14 and July 10 at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0- 0-0-wildlife-diary.htm

Prickly Lettuce: First flowers in Havant on July 12

Spotted Hawkweed: Flowering on Portsdown on July 9

Late entries not sequenced

Musk Orchid: Flowering at Noar Hill near Selborne on July 13

Creeping Jenny: This has been flowering in my Havant garden this week and is presumably also flowering at the Warblington Farm SSSI

Tree of Heaven: This tree growing next to Glenhurst School in Beechworth Road here in Havant is in full flower on July 14

OTHER WILDLIFE Great Grey Slug (Limax maximus: I have plenty of the variously coloured Arion ater Garden Slugs on my lawn early each morning at this time of year but this morning (Jul 14) I found my first example of the streaked and spotted 'Leopard Slug' for this year sleeping peacefully (i.e. drowning) in a plastic tub filled with water for the birds. I took it out of the water to photograph it and was glad to see that it was not dead as it extended its tentacles and opened its Pneumostome (air intake) for some necessary deep breathing (if you are not familiar with slug anatomy see http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/images/slug_labelled.gif). I intend to publish some of my own photos in my next diary entry which show it was around 8cm long and has a very small 'keel' at the rear of its topside at the back end - this with the simple whitish 'foot' - show that it is a young Limax maximus.

Flounders: The water of the main lake at Farlington Marshes drains into Langstone Harbour via a large pipe which has a metal flap at its outer end to allow the pressure of water in the lake to push it open when the tide goes down and ceases to press the flap closed, stopping seawater from flooding into the lake. There is also a grille in the pipe to stop sea creatures from forcing their way into the lake against the flow of the outgoing water and this grille has recently had an unintended effect in killing a number of Flounders. See Bob Chapman's account of this at http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/come-into-my- parlour/ WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JULY 8 - 14 (WEEK 28 OF 2013) Sat 13 July Evidence for Swifts still breeding in central Havant Yesterday I took my bike for repair in the Havant North Street arcade and as I was walking north up Prince George Street I heard the scream of a Swift coming from the sky to my right over the Manor Close pedestrian cul-de-sac between Fairfield Road and Prince George Street. Looking up I saw not one but two Swifts diving vertically on the houses from which I did not see them fly up on completion of their dive. Several hours later when collecting my bike I saw what may have been the same two Swifts flying in the same area and this morning, looking west from my front garden, I saw them again. These sightings must be regarded in the context of my personal previous sightings of Swifts in Havant this year (just one brief view of two birds low over the trees of the Billy Trail behind my house on June 10 which was a gloomy and windy day when I would have expected hungry Swifts to be hundreds of miles away where the sun was shining and insects were plentiful). Add to these snippets the fact that I know that Swfts have in the past nested in artificial nests on a house in Manor Close and that any Swift eggs laid earlier this year should be hatching around now, requiring the chicks to be fed (allowing for the fact that Swift chicks can survive for several days without food - see http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/Amazing%20swift%20facts_tcm9-279347.pdf in which it says .. "They have a clever adaptation. Food can be scarce in bad weather – the chicks can go cold and torpid and survive for days without food, then regain weight rapidly once supplies resume. Most baby birds can’t do this and would simply die within hours.")- I feel justified in claiming that, unlike House Martins, Swifts have not yet become extinct as breeding birds in central/east Havant around my home. Whether or not you are interested in the survival of breeding Swifts in your home area I do recommend the RSPB 'fact list' to everyone interested in the different life styles adopted by nature. One other fact of which I have direct personal knowledge comes from sleeping in a school dormitory in which our beds were below rafters used by Swifts for their nests. As the young developed and flew their nests large, black, crablike parasites would fall from the rafters onto our beds (though I cannot recall any ever sucking boy's blood, and these parasites are listed in a paragraph saying .. "Swifts in the nest, especially the young ones, are bothered by horrifying parasites called louse flies (also called flat flies or keds). These alarming wingless parasites don’t actually seem to do them any harm but they are relatively huge, and are roughly equivalent to us having 10 cm lobsters or crabs crawling on us! Each blood meal these things take from a swift is roughly the same as we would give in one-quarter of a blood donation. Louse flies may look scary but they are no bother to people and very rarely bite.". One other observation from yesterday was of the first Prickly Lettuce in flower here in Havant, and from the day before I see that I forgot to mention that I saw three Marbled White butterflies among the many Meadow Brown butterflies enjoying the newly flowering brambles lining Wade Lane near Wade Court. I wonder if these vagrant Marbled Whites have, or will, establish a colony in the grassland south of the A27 and east of the Billy Trail? Finally if any reader of these ramblings shares my interest in the countryside of southern England I suggest they read Alan Parker's account of a walk from Smallhythe Place National Trust property (at TQ 894 300 southeast of Tenterden in Kant) east following the 'Reading Sewer' along north edge of the Isle of Oxney to the Ferry inn (TQ 941 288) and use this route as a prompt to use the internet to explore the area. Some essential links for this are to Alan's initial walk description at http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/7/10/dance-of-the-flies.html, the Smallhythe Place starting point at http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/smallhythe- place/, the Wikipedia piece on the Isle of Oxney at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Oxney. One thing that puzzled me when trying to locate the place called Stone cum Ebony is that it is actually the name of a Civil Parish and not a physical location. Have fun following these leads up using Where's the path (http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm) but do not try to use it if it has exhausted its allocation of map views from the Ordnance Survey on a particular day. Thu 11 July A walk to Budds Farm via the South Moors and back through Langstone I had no great expectations for this walk but intended to search for Slender Hare's Ear on the South Moors seawall despite this being around a month before it normally appears. I did not find it but did learn why Bob Chapman calls his blog the '108 foot blog' and counted 51 Egrets at Langstone Pond. First find was of Hoary Ragwort just starting to flower near the Langstone roundabout and my second new flower was also a Ragwort - Marsh Ragwort at the South Moors where a juvenile Kestrel was calling for its parents from the Telegraph posts on my way out and still pleading to be fed on my way back. Other plants noted, though not firsts, were Enchanter's Nightshade under the trees beside the Langbrook Stream, Marsh Woundwort on the Moors, Meadowsweet in the stream and a good show of both the large flowers of Water Forget-me-not near the A27 and the much smaller flowers of Tufted Forget-me- not on the Moors. Passing the Mallards housing on my way down stream I got into conversation with a couple tending their garden which has a low bridge over the stream and they said that Kingfishers were already using the bridge as a fishing perch - they knew the difference in foot colour between a juvenile and adult bird and seem convinced that adult birds were present year round though it is more likely that they are currently seeing juveniles which have been expelled from inland stream nests by their parents and which have had the good fortune to survive long enough to reach the coast. The man told me how he had picked up a bird from the ground after it had stunned itself by flying into a window and how the bird came to and flew off but I don't know if this was a recent or past event. Plant growth along the narrow path south of the HBC Depot was being cut by a team of Wildlife Trust volunteers under the direction of Bob Chapman's confusingly named assistant Rob and it was he who answered my question about the name of the blog - apparently it reflects the height range of Bob's 'empire' - from sea level at Farlington to 108 feet higher at Hook Heath. At the Budds Farm pools there seemed to have been an early influx of Coot though as I could only see 32 of them this influx may have been an illusiion caused by this year's young putting on adult plumage. What was not an illusion was my first sight of the full Swan family - the male was idling away the time in the western pool while the female was caring for all four well grown cygnets in the eastern pool. At one point the mother swan 'stood up' and shook out her wings showing that there was not a single flight feather on them (both primaries and secondaries were all missing) Along the shore I saw two or three Great Crested Grebe still showing their breeding head-dresses, and inland at least one Meadow Pipit was making weak attempts at parachute song flights. At Langstone Pond with the tide high a full complement of Egrets was present and I counted a total of 51 birds including juveniles still in one nest with others around the pond, and the adults - I'm pretty sure there were a few more that I did not see. On the pond the full Swan family with three cyngets was present and on the nearly submerged saltings off shore I saw a single Curlew and a single Whimbrel (much smaller and with a distinctly hooked beak) - both presumably newly back. One more newly flowering plant seen on the walk home through Havant - Redshank. Tue 9 July Flowers and butterflies in hot sunshine on Portsdown west Today's target species were Basil Thyme and Rockrose, both of which I found along with some 90 flowering plant species and a mass of Marbled White and other butterflies, in a three hour walk on the southern slopes of Portsdown from Portchester Common east to the Paulsgrove chalk pit I parked in the unofficial layby at SU 625068 on the north side of the hilltop road (here called James Callaghan Way) immediately after passing the Driving Test Centre and walked some 300 metres south-east to the eastern entrance into Portchester Common SSSI, within which I headed a short distance north-west to the eastern end of the northern 'transect' from which I took the first of my photos before casting around in the dense ground vegetation for a patch of bare earth, probably created by a rabbit, which is the habitat in which I expected to find Basil Thyme growing. My next photo is of this habitat with the plant and this is followed by a close-up of the lovely flowers. This is the best time of year to find the plant and this year it seems to be flourishing as I found a couple more sites for it before leaving the Common (and am pretty sure I would have found more had I walked west to Skew Road along the next broad path south of the one on which I started my hunt) Before reaching the Common I had begun to see the Marbled White butterflies that were omnipresent on the hill and while in the Common I saw a very fresh Comma and my first Ringlet. Plants seen at this early stage included a mass of Pyramidal Orchids, the two common members of the Gentian family (Yellow-wort and Centaury), and my first flowers on the very inconspicuous Knotgrass. As I was leaving the Common I frustrated a Fox trying to enter by the path on which I was departing - no damage to the Fox but it reminded me that just before reaching the Fort Southwick area I had passed a dead Badger on the roadside verge. I now headed east and downhill to the path the follows the bottom of the hill slope along the northern edge of the Paulsgrove housing estate and I followed this to SU 62750 06611 where a very minor track heads uphill. Turning up this track for about 20 metres until the scrub on my left gave way to open hill side I turned left and walked around ten metres to where I remembered finding (last year) a large anthill covered with Rock-rose flowers. Today the anthill was submerged in ground vegetation and I could only find one Rock-rose flower (see photo below) but on making my way back to the track I had come up I realised that a few flecks of yellow were the remains of Rock-rose flowers and that they were surrounded by a mass of unopen flower buds hanging like decorative balls on a Christmas tree from several flower stems (second photo below). Using a combination of the Google Satellite view of the hillside (via the Where's the path website) and the Streetmap website I realise that I have being spreading lies about this site - I had deceived myself into making up a good story by saying that immediately south of this Rock-rose site the road just over the fence in the Paulsgrove estate was called Rockrose Way (opening off Butterfly Drive) but I now see that Rockrose Way is some 450 metres east of this point and lies south of the west end of the Chalkpit area

Shortly after the Rock-rose site I came to the foot of one of the Electricty pylons around which the disturbed ground has a great variety of plants which included my first flowering Musk (or Nodding) Thistle and my first flowering Vervain plus colourful Rosebay Willowherb and a mass of Hemp Agrimony not yet in flower. From here I had to struggle diagonally uphill in order to find a gate giving access to an equally steep downhill path into the base of the Chalk Quarry in which I found my first Lucerne flowers but nothing else of significance. From the eastern end of the quarry it was uphill again to the path leading back west above the lip of the quarry. Here I was annoyed to find the remains of a fire and a mass of beer cans and other litter but the view out to sea over Portchester Castle, plus my first Dwarf Thistle flower, did something to restore my enjoyment of the site as I returned to my car.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JULY 1 - 7 (WEEK 27 OF 2013) BIRDS

Little Bittern: On July 5 the RBA News included a statement that a 'new male had been heard barking at the Ham Wall reserve in Somerset where a single pair of Little Bitterns is known to be breeding.'

Little Egret: When I passed Langstone Pond on July 5 the trees where crowded with Egrets and I guessed that more than 40 were present but when I was there again on July 6 just after the extremely low tide had started to flow (making very good fishing conditions for the Egrets) I found notably fewer birds at the pond so I guess that some of the juveniles have joined their parents out in the harbour and are learning out to catch their own food.

Spoonbill: The two which have been on the Lymington shore through May and June have not been reported since June 27 and one may have moved to Pagham Harbour where one was reported on July 1 and 3 but that too has now vanished.

Osprey: A wing tagged bird which appeared at Bembridge (IoW) RSPB reserve on July 6 may indicate the start of their return passage. The artificial nests on Thorney Island do not appear to have attracted breeding birds this year but more than one bird has visited them and may use them in future and we amy also have breeding birds in Hampshire as I see that planning permission has been granted for the building of a nest platform at Ibsley Water in the Blashford Lakes reserve.

Little Ringed Plover: On July 1 13 of these birds were reported at Pulborough Brooks and I assume this reflects the start of their southward passage though there may have been some 'unreported' breeding there.

Dotterel: One has been in the Scillies from June 27 to 29 at least - presumably moving south.

Golden Plover: A flock of 8 at Gatteville in Normandie are probaby also returnees from the north.

Curlew: A single bird which has appeared in Stoke Bay (south of the Hayling Oysterbeds) this week is thought to be an early returning breeder.

Green Sandpiper: A count of 6 at Sandwich Bay on July 5 was the highest count of five this week, second was a count of 3 at Farlington Marshes on July 2 when another was at the Sidlesham Ferry Pool (Pagham Harbour).

Black Headed Gull: Chris Cockburn reports a count of 1149 nests at the Hayling Oysterbeds where the first chicks to hatch have started to move away, freeing up nesting space for Common Terns. At the Blashford Lakes more than 285 juvs were seen on July 5.

Sandwich Tern: The breeding colony at Rye Harbour has failed to produce any young this year, partly through lack of food in the sea but mainly because the Med Gulls nesting there ate most of their eggs. By driving away the Terns the Med Gulls deprived themselves of Tern Eggs and as a result only one Med Gull chick has fledged this year.

Common Tern: The number of pairs breeding at the Hayling Oysterbeds has increased as the Black-headed Gull chicks fledge and the parents free up their nest spaces - Chris Cockburn reported more than 40 pairs present this week.

Little Tern: None have nested at the Hayling Oysterbeds this year but there may still be some out on the RSPB Island in Langstone Harbour. On June 28 there were still a few present in Pagham Harbour and some were said to be feeding young at Rye Harbour but on July 5 the news from Rye is that all breeding has failed due to predation by Foxes and Crows - see http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/7/5/beach-reserve.html.

Black Tern: A report of one at a German site on July 6 is the first mention of the species on Trektellen since an outward bound bird was at Rye Harbour on June 8 and so may be the first returnng bird.

Cuckoo: Last week I reported that the 'Sussex' cuckoo, already in the Mediterranean area on its way south, had unexpectedly turned north. This week the BTO has said that this is not abnormal - the bird, needing to feed up before crossing to Africa and then the Sahara, must have realised that it had missed a good feeding area and had turned back to find it. Adults still in England this week have been reported in the New Forest, Poole Harbour, Pagham Harbour and as far north as County Durham.

Sand Martin: The first to be seen flying south from Portland was reported on June 29 but by July 6 both Portland and Bembridge (IoW) reported counts of 70 departing birds.

Common Redstart: On July 4 Dungeness reported one as its first autumn migrant with singles of Willow Warbler and Blackcap next day).

House Sparrow: At least half a dozen could be heard in gardens around my home on July 4 but by July 6 they had all left for the countryisde. Vagrants: Two more interesting birds this week. On Jul 4 a Bridled Tern was on the Farne Islands off Northumbland and it was still around on Jul 5 - for info on the species see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridled_Tern - and an Ascension Frigate Bird (only the second to reach the UK) was on Islay on July 5 - see http://blog.islayinfo.com/article.php/ascension-frigatebird-on-islay. For more photos and an insight into the lifestyle of this 'vulture like' seabird see http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/2011/04/27/ascension- frigatebird/. INSECTS Dragonflies: Common Hawker (Aeshna junca): This year the first was seen on July 4 in Northumberland and is probably the last of the regular species to emerge.

Butterflies: Small Skipper: First for the year seen in Hampshire on June 29. Large Skipper Dingy Skipper Grizzled Skipper Clouded Yellow Brimstone Large White Small White Green-veined White White Hairstreak: First and so far only report is of one in the Cosham (Portsmouth) area on June 29. The location was the ex-IBM North Harbour site. Small Copper Small Blue Silver Studded Blue Brown Argus Common Blue Adonis Blue Holly Blue White Admiral: Three reports this week (on June 28,29 and 30) mark the emergence of this species but a rogue sighting on June 19 was the First of Year Red Admiral Painted Lady Small Tortoiseshell: Currently emerging in large numbers and one report mentions 'signs of courtship' which, if mating occurred, would contradict my belief that these species which emerge and almost immediately hibernate to be ready to breed next spring do not mate in the year of their emergence. Large Tortoiseshell: On June 29 two (presumed migrants) were seen at Warnford in the Meon Valley. Comma Dark Green Fritillary Speckled Wood Marbled White: These first appeared on June 29 at two sites - Isle of Wight and Portchester near Fareham. Meadow Brown Small Heath Ringlet Monarch: One presumed trans-Atlantic migrant seen at Lee-on-the-Solent on June 2

PLANTS

Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris): Cultivated forms of Aquilegia which have established themselves in the wild are easy to find but the native woodland form is rare in south east Hampshire so I was interested to see that on July 6 a local group of Hampshire Wildlife Trust members visited Coulters Dean Bank, the only site for it which I was aware of, and I see that it is mentioned among a long list of their botanic finds which include the first Agrimony and Bush Vetch flowers for the year plus Greater Butterfly and Fragant orchids (and Broad Leaved Helleborines still in bud). Other 'first flowers' were Rockrose, Clustered Bellflower, Round- headed Rampion, Common Valerian and Greater Knapweed. To reach Coulters Dean Bank you can either park at the 'back entrance' to the Q E Park at SU 733198 and walk east for 2 km along an unmade track following the northern brow of the downs above Buriton, or you can park by Buriton Pond (SU 739199) and walk 1km south east up a steep dark track called the Milky Way (I understand that much of the milk being brought down to the village by farm cart was likely to be spilt by the bumpiness of the track). Having reached the Coulters Dean Farm area take a footpath starting a little east of the farm and running south along the woodland edge - this brings you almost immediately into the nature reserve area which is mainly in the grassland west of the wood but to find the Columbine you will probably have to search in the woods. While thinking about Columbine I checked what the Hants Flora has to say about it and found that there is another site for it on the west side of the Meon Valley in a wood called Bottom Copse at SU 584205 but I have no idea whereabouts to look and if there is public access other than the path around the southern fringe and the path north through the east end. However this wood did introduce me to a website which might well be of interest to walkers wishing the explore the local countryside and who are stiil fit enough to enjoy walks of ten miles of more. The authors of the website do not seem to have any interest in wildlife but do provide many detailed routes to take you around the countryside. Check it out and see if it would be of interest - go to http://www.thewalkzone.co.uk/ and click on 'South Coast' in the panel on the left of the screen, then click on the button beside one of the long list of walks that have been explored since 2001 - interestingly the very first walk is dated 21 Dec 2001 and starts its 12 mile route from Buriton Pond, goes south through the QE Park to Chalton Down then east past Idsworth Church and north to Ditcham School and on through Coulters Dean Bank before going down the Milky Way into Buriton Least Yellow Sorrel (Oxalis exilis): The mass of plants beside the footpath from the Royal Oak at Langstone to central Havant, on the north side of Southbrook Road in the Langstone new housing area, was in full flower on July 5. Dyer's Greenweed: This has been reported as in flower at Durlston since July 2 but I could see no sign of it in the field with the pond beside the Hayling Coastal Path north of the Pillbox where you can cut through to the West Lane bends. I have not checked the site at the east end of Thornham Lane on Thorney Island. Spiny Restharrow: This was flowering on July 1 at the inside foot of the Thorney Island western seawall a short distance north of the Great Deeps. Strawberry Clover: A mass of this was newly flowering beside the main path through North Common at Northney where it passes the old boating lake. Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea: First flowers seen beside the Hayling Coastal path on July 6. Tall Melilot/Golden Melilot: A mass of what I believe to be this was flowering at North Common on Hayling on July 6 (to see it turn left into the 'meadow area' immediately after coming through the entrance gate) and I spent some time checking that the 'keel' of the flowers was the same length as the 'wings' (in Ribbed Melilot the keel is shorter than the wings) It will be much easier to separate the species when there are mature seed pods which are black on Tall and brown on Ribbed). I mention this as Brian Fellows found Ribbed Melilot on Brook Meadow in Emsworth on July 7 and I cannot see the 'shorter keels' in his photo of the plants there Lucerne: Brian Fellows found this newly flowering in the Eastney area of Portsmouth on July Goat's Rue: This was flowering at the Hayling Oysterbeds carpark and at the North Common site on July 6. Agrimony: This was newly in flower on July 6 both beside the Hyling Coastal Path and at Coulters Dean Bank above Buriton. Meadowsweet: Starting to flower at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on July 5. Rosebay Willowherb: First flowers seen at Brook Meadow on July 3. Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius): Not a wild flower but a significant marker of the advancing season (as is Laburnum) - this was in flower on July 4 in Havant. Wild Celery: First flowers seen in a roadside ditch on Thorney Island on July 6. Lax Sea Lavender: Flowering on the harbour mud below the sea wall around Langstone Pond on July 5. The normal Sea Lavender growing nearby, which normally flowers first, seems to have died out at this site and I only saw mass flowering of the normal plant in the Northney Marina inlet nest day (July 6) Moth Mullein: After the plant seen by Peter Pond in Emsworth on July 1 I found another single plant (well advanced in its flowering) on the Hayling Norht Common site on July 6. Round-leaved Fluellen: Newly flowering at the junction of Emsworth Road and Meadowlands Road in east Havant on July 1. Marjoram: Flowering by the Hayling Coastal Path on July 6. Marsh Woundwort: Newly flowering at Emsworth on July 3. Buddleia davidii: First flowers seen in Havant on July 4. Harebell: Flowering at Eastney onJuly 4. Clustered Bellflower: Flowering at Coulters Dean Bank on July 6. Trailing Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana): In addition to the Adria Bellflower which I first found flowering in Havant St faith's churchyard on June 16 the commoner garden escape is now starting to flower around Havant (first noticed on July 4). Round-headed Rampion: Flowering at Countlers Dean Bank on July 6. Common Valerian: Also first seen at Coulters Dean on July 6. Common Fleabane: First seen in Emsworth on July 3. Greater Knapweed: First flowers seen on July 6. Perennial Sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis): First flowers in Emsworth on June 29. New Zealand Cabbage Palm (Cordyline australis): Another significant garden planting the white frothy flowers have recently started to appear. Lizard orchid: 35 flowering at Camber near Rye on July 1.

OTHER WILDLIFE Hedgehog: Three separate reports of Hedgehogs this week may well be the result of increased activity by females as they give birth and have to increase their time spent searching for food to feed up to five young without any assistance from the males. For more info about Hedgehogs see http://www.pznow.co.uk/wildlife/hedgehog.html

Toadlets: On June 30 Bob Chapman noticed many tiny Toadlets moving in the grass around the bomb crater ponds at Farlington Marshes from which they recently emerged.

Fish: I was surprised to read of a 6lb Salmon seen in Chichester Harbour on July 2 seemingly wanting to swim up the River Lavant into Chichester. It's presence there supports my opinion that not every Salmon is equipped with the unerring sense of direction plus sense of smell that is supposed to guide mature Salmon back to the stream in which they hatched but this report did spur me to check on the life cycle of these fish which leave their birth river when they are around one year old, spend a variable time (one to five years) in the open sea, then return to their birthplace to breed and die. One significant fact concerning their life style is their ability to adapt their metabolism from fresh to salt water and back again and to do this they have to spend some time in coastal waters which are a mixture of fresh and salt water.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JULY 1 - 7 (WEEK 27 OF 2013)

Sat 6 July

Langstone and north Hayling My ride this afternoon followed the Billy Line to the pillbox south of the Oysterbeds, then cut across the island via Daw and Copse Lanes before visiting the North Common Open Space and heading home via Langstone Pond and Wade Lane. First new flowers came in the Oysterbeds section with Greater Knapweed, Marjoram and what I think was Perforate St John's Wort, followed by Goat's Rue in the carpark behind the Esso Garage and Rosebay Willowherb on the seawall south of the shore carpark. Also in this section of the coastal path I noted flowers on both Broad Leaved Everlasting Pea and Agrimony. A surprise find beside Daw Lane was a large flowering plant of French Cranesbill and my first definite find of Field Rose - on the south side of Daw Lane a crop of Flax is just starting to flower. At North Common a mass of Tall Melilot was in flower in the 'meadow area' on the west side of the path immediately after coming through the entrance gate but there was no sign yet of Fragrant Agrimony after rejoining the main path. In the inner part of the Marina inlet I saw my first mass flowering of Sea Lavender and shortly after I found a single Moth Mullein south of the main path. Nearing the new houses I found a great mass of Strawberry Clover in flower. My only other 'first' today was Wild Celery flowering in the roadside ditch on my left as I approached the hotel. At Langstone Pond, with the tide just beginning to flow from its low point, I found noticeably fewer Egrets which I take to mean that some of the young birds are now joining their parents on fishing trips - the tide was ideal for learning the art of fishing. Since my previous Diary entry for July 1 my notepad records a few items worth including here. On Wednesday July 3 a short ride to the New Lane allotments found 11 healthy flowering plants of Weasel's Snout and a good show of Duke of Argyll's Teaplant flowering in the cemetery. July 4 found the first Buddleia flowers in Havant and I noted a Cordyline (New Zealand Cabbage Palm) flowering. Yesterday (July 5) two firsts were Lax Sea Lavender on the shore by Langstone Pond and Least Yellow Sorrel by the path cutting through the new Langstone housing. Mon 1 July Emsworth and the Thorney Deeps I spent much of today in a helicopter above the coast of Corsica enjoying the rugged landscape and serene sea past which the 198 contestants for the 'Yellow Jersey' were cycling but when the day's stage had been won by a margin of around one inch (needing a photo-finish to determine who the winner was) I came down to earth and got on my own bike for a short ride. Heading east along the Emsworth Road I remembered to stop at Meadowlands Road to check the shrubs planted at its junction with Emsworth Road, or rather to check for any weeds in the bare ground from which shrubs had been removed last year. The stop was worth while as, besides a lot of Scarlet Pimpernel there was a good show of Round-leaved Fluellen in flower - the first I have seen this year and the only place where I expect to see it here in Havant before the Warblington Farm fields are harvested to expose their crop of weeds. Next stop was shortly after turning into Selangor Avenue which has been planted on both sides with at least twenty Narrow Leaved Ash Trees (Fraxinus angustifolia). I see that this is quite a common tree for roadside planting in this country but that it has become a weed in many parts of Australia, where it is known as Desert Ash. It has been widely planted there as a street and park tree, and has spread to native bushland and grasslands, as well as stream banks and drainage lines, out-competing native plants for moisture, light and nutrients. This fact reminds me of 'Patterson's Curse', the name given in Australia to Vipers Bugloss after a Scottish lady, pining for home after emigrating in the 1880s, planted a few seeds in her new garden and then watched the plants spread across the Australian continent, out competing crops and slowly killing horses and cattle that ate it. The plant concerned was not our common Vipers Bugloss but a variant called Purple Vipers Bugloss which is nowadays a raritiy in the UK only found near Land's End. To show that it was not always seen as a disaster plant in Australia it was also given the name of Salvation Jane on account of its ability to grow in drought conditions and thus to provide food for starving cattle (even though it slowly poisoned them). It was also welcomed by Bee Keepers as providing pollen that produced top quality honey. At the Seagull Lane entrance to Brook Meadow I had my first glimpse for this year of the white flowers of Russian Vine, another garden escape with great 'weed potential', and in the Meadow I spotted my first Large Skipper of the year (they have been seen elsewhere since June 6 and I see that Brian Fellows saw his first two in the meadow earlier today). Emerging into Lumley Lane I turned north and rode to the cottages just south of the railway - here, a little over half-way along the row of cottages, I found what I was looking for growing on the stone side of the channel through which the 'Lumley Stream' flows past the cottages - two large plants of freshly flowering Skullcap with delightful blue flowers. Turning back south and riding to within a stone's throw of the main A259, I spotted my reason for choosing to come here today, a single plant of Moth Mullein growing among the rushes lining the edge of Peter Pond. As the plant had been originally misidentified as Dark Mullein I did not wish to compound the error by saying it was Moth Mullein until I had seen arrangement of the anthers and the type and colour of the hairs on the stem and within the flowers. My original conclusion that it could not be Dark Mullein was based on the fact that there seemed to be only one large flower at each node on the stem where Dark would have multiple smaller flowers at each node but this is not a feature considered by Stace in his identification key in which the first consideration is the arrangement of the anthers within the flower - all Mulleins have five anthers but in half the species the top three stamens have their anthers attached horizontally to the tip of the stamen while the lower two are attached vertically, something that is easy to see. Dark Mullein falls into the group of seven species in which all five anthers are attached horizotally while this Peter Pond plant was in the other group leaving only six possibilities but a check on the plant stem showed only stalked glands which immediately narrowed the choice down to one species - Moth Mullein (which I have found in at least three local sites in the past few years and am now expecting to find elsewhere). Next stop was the Emsworth Marina where I found the expected Hedgerow Cranesbill and Black Mustard on the seawall plus one Tree Mallow worthy of the name - it must have been at least three metres tall. Nothing special at the west end of either the Little or the Great Deeps though seeing a pair of Swans fly in to land on the Little Deeps reminded me that these big birds will soon become flightless during their summer moult (timing its completion to co-incide with the time at which their young cygnets acquire the ability to fly for the first time. At the Great Deeps best bird was a Common Tern seen both fishing and perching on a post where its bright scarlet feet and bill stood out in the sunshine. I found the usual empty shells of Pointed Snails but did not find a live one (if we get the promised heat wave in July they should show themselves by climbing up plant stems to be cooled by any breeze rather than fry on the baking hot ground), and I found no Slender Hare's Ear though it will probably not show itself for another month. The one new flower for the year seen today was Spiny Restharrow and on my way home I added two ticks to my personal list with the Shaggy Soldier that Brian Fellows had found on June 27 at the A259/Queen St road junction and the Perennial Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis) which he had found on June 29.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JUNE 24 - 30 (WEEK 26 OF 2013) BIRDS Storm Petrel: June 23 seems to have been the peak day for seeing these and several other seabird species around our south west shores. Although the highest individual count of the Petrels was only 18 at St Ives in Cornwall they were accompanied by many Manx Shearwaters (Portland had over 200 of these) plus small numbers of Balearic and even Sooty Shearwaters

Cattle Egret: June is normall a dead month for birding excitement so a group from Reculver in Kent decided to pop across the Channel on June 24 and this is what they recorded during this day trip. .. "With birding so quiet at Reculver over recent weeks we spent another day in France. We visited Marquenterre, Crecy Forest and Oye Plage and saw 102 species including 157 Spoonbills, 1 Cattle Egret, 24 White Storks, 7 Great White Egrets, 21 Black-winged Stilts and 3 Black-necked Grebes not to mention singing Marsh Warblers, Firecrests and Wood Warbler. All in all an excellent day out.

Little Egret: Passing Langstone Pond on June 29 I did not have the time to assess the number and and ages of the Egrets but, despite the seawall path being crowded with people, I guessed that there were at least 30 Egrets on view and saw that several had the greenish legs of well grown juveniles.

Scaup: Last week I mentioned that an adult female Scaup had been seen in the Langstone Channel on June 23 and that this was a surprise as it was the first mention of the species for a month. There was some confusion as to where the bird was as it was said to have been seen from Warblington (east of Langstone and in Chichester Harbour) but located in the Langstone Channel (which is in Langstone Harbour and refers to the main channel running south from the Oysterbeds). This ambiguity was elminated next day (June 24) when what must have been the same bird was found in Pagham Lagoon where it stayed to at least June 28 and was photograhped by Alon Kitson (see http://www.sos.org.uk/administrator/components/com_jobline4/logo/snv37775--- copy.jpg.

Black-Winged Stilt: I have already mentioned that the Kent birders who made a day trip to France on June 24 found 21 Stilts there but I see that one of the Stilts flew over to Sheppey on June 26 - no further info.

Green Sandpiper: Early autumn passage birds continue to arrive with a party of 5 together at Sandwich Bay on June 26 plus smaller groups in Dorset and Cornwall this week. Wood and Common Sandpipers are also passing through.

Wilson's Phalarope: The bird which arrived at Yarmouth (IoW) on June 18 was last seen there on June 23.

Little Tern: On June 28 more than 10 of these were seen in Pagham Harbour and Rye Harbour reported that chicks were being fed there. In Langstone Harbour their absence was marked by a large plastic banner at the Oysterbeds telling us what a great job was being done by local government and the Veolia waste disposal company in saving the Little Tern from its suicidal tendencies.

Cuckoo: What I assume are adult birds are still being seen this week in Kent, Hampshire and Dorset but a check on the progress of the bird adopted by Sussex (see http://www.sos.org.uk/follow-sussex-on-his-journey.html) shows it had already reached the southern tip of Sadinia when it realised it was missing the action of the Tour de France and smartly turned back north to the northern tip of Corsica (not sure how you account for that in any scientific theory of bird navigation).

House Martin: Two snippets of discouraging news come from (a) myself - only managing to get the species on my yearlist this week when I saw four birds over the Budda Farm pools on June 29, and (b) Rebecca Rees who checked for nests in Hurstpierpoint near Brighton on June 27 and could only find one nest where there had been seven last year.

Meadow Pipit: To show that not all news is bad I I heard at least two singing Meadow Pipits at the Langstone South Moors where I have heard them this year on Apr 10, June 5 and now June 29. No doubt they are only singing because they have not managed to attract a female so far!

White Wagtail: Birders at Folkestone are claiming to have a pair nesting there for the first time time 1981 (but I am not sure if they have found the nest yet).

Mistle Thrush: A flock of around 12 birds seen on Graffham Down near Midhurst would seem to indicate that at least two pairs have bred successfully this year - maybe this species is drawing back from the brink of extinction.

Spotted Flycatcher: At least one pair has bred on the Stansted estate this summer and a pair have been seen at Alresford this week - another species not quite extinct as a breeding species in Hampshire and Sussex.

White-throated Needletail: This species, which holds the air speed record for level flight, got into the news this week by flying from the Himalays to the Scottish island of Harris where it promptly killed itself by flying into a privately owned wind turbine which the locals had been complaining about since it was put up. I'm surprised that the media have not made more of a meal out of a story with all this controversial points. If you want some more accurate info try Lee Evans account at http://uk400clubrarebirdalert.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/red-red-alert-needle- tailed-swift-on.html and a local birder's account at http://maciverblog.co.uk/2013/06/28/twitchers-shock-as-rare-bird-killed-by- drinishader-turbine/. Finally have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White- throated_Needletail which tells us that the dead body is to be sent to a museum. If you pursue this story to http://www.western-isles-wildlife.com/ you find further excitement through the other local hot topic in the western isles under the headline .. "New Zealand Flatworm wipes out earthworms in Carinish garden".

INSECTS Dragonflies: Brown Hawker (Aesha grandis): First for the year seen in Lancashire on June 25. Ruddy Darter: First for year seen in Essex also on June 25. Red-eyed Damsel: One of 28 species seen this week and included because, after seeing several photos in which there is no 'red eye' visible, Steve Copsey managed to get a shot which does show this - taken at Ham Wall in Somerset on June 14 - see http://www.surfbirds.com/community- blogs/amigo/files/2013/06/Red-eyed-Damselfly-1-Han-Wall-14-Jun-2013.jpg.

Butterflies: Large Skipper: Dingy Skipper: Grizzled Skipper: Swallowtail: On June 19 a migrant from the continent was seen in St Thomas Ave on Hayling Island Clouded Yellow: At least nine were seen in Kent and Sussex this week Pale Clouded Yellow: The only one reported so fr this year was at the Testwood Lakes near Southampton on June 27 where it was watched for at least ten minutes Brimstone: Large White: Small White: Green-veined White: Green Hairstreak: Small Copper: Small Blue: Silver Studded Blue: Brown Argus: Common Blue: Adonis Blue: Holly Blue: Duke of Burgundy: Probably the last for the year. Red Admiral: Painted Lady: At least 8 seen this week. Small Tortoiseshell: Comma: Glanville Fritillary: Speckled Wood: Wall Brown: Meadow Brown: Snall Heath: Wall Brown: Ringlet: First for the year reported on June 27 at Froxfield near Petersfield.

Other Insects Yellow-ringed Comb-horn (Ctenophora flaveolata): See http://www.buglife.org.uk/conservation/adviceonmanagingbaphabitats/lowlandbee chandyewwoodland for this woodland insect which Graeme Lyons found out of context on Levin Down north of Chichester on June 22. For Graeme's account see http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/the-daddy- of-all-wasp-mimics.html.

Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta): Found and photographed b7 Brian Fellows in Emsworth on June 23 - see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x733-long-hoverfly-rail-ws- 24.06.13.jpg

Hornet: Other than one at Folkestone on May 19 the only other I have heard of this year was seen in Botley Woods on June 25 (report from Three Amigos blog)

Glow-worm: The first glowing female reported this year was at Durlston on June 27.

Nursery Tent Spider (Pisaura mirablils): First tent-full of spiderlings seen in Brook Meadow at Emsworth on June 27.

Zebra spider (Salticus scenicus): Thia tiny jumping spider is not uncommon on warm surfaces such as house walls in the summer and is identified by its 'zebra striped' body and by the very large central pair of eyes which it needs to compute the precise jump onto its prey. All but nine species of spider found in Britain have eight eyes (the exceptions have only six) and the pattern in which they are arranged is a major id feature. See Peter Raby's excellent photo of this spider with its prey at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x730-wolf- spider-prey-PMR-27.06.13.jpg but remember that this creature is no more than 6mm long.

PLANTS Long-headed Poppy: Flowering at Farlington Marshes on June 15

Opium Poppy: Flowering at Hayling Oysterbeds on June 25

Creeping Yellow Cress: Flowering at Havant Rail station on June 26 and more plentifully on the old playing fields at Broadmarsh on June 29.

Water cress: Flowering in Havant on June 24.

Narrow Leaved Pepperwort: Flowering at the A27 Langstone roundabout on June 29. Tutsan: Flowering at Nore Barn Woods, Emsworth, on June 26.

Slend St Johns Wort: Flowering at Broadmarsh on June 29.

Rose Campion (lychnis coronaria): Flowering on Sinah Common. Hayling Island, on June 25.

Rest-harrow: Flowering on Hayling beachlands on June 25.

Smooth Tare: First of this 'blue flowered' species out on June 29.

Hairy Vetchling (Lathyrus hirsutus): First flowers seen at its only Hampshire site (the Broadmarsh mountain =old rubbish tip) on June 29.

Greater Birds Foot Trefoil: First flowers at Broadmarsh on June 29.

Bladder Senna: The small tree half way up the east side of The Kench on Hayling was covered in yellow flowers on June 25.

Great Willowherb: First flowers in Havant on June 28.

Hoary Willowherb: Flowering in Emsworth on June 23.

Enchanter's Nightshade: One plant flowering in my Havant garden on June 23.

Large flowered Evening Primrose: First flower seen in Havant on June 29.

Knotted Hedge Parsley: Flowering on June 29 at a regular site beside SouthMoor Lane in Havant.

Common Centaury: Flowering at Broadmarsh on June 2

Yellow-Wort: My first sight of this in flower at Broadmarsh on June 29.

Hedge Bindweed: First flowers in Emsworth on June 23.

Cock's Eggs (Salpichroa origanifolia): Starting to flower at it Hayling Island site on June 25.

Great Mullein: First flowers on Hayling on June 25. Late news is of what seems to be a Moth Mullein now flowering in Emsworth

Pale Toadflax: First flowers at its Hayling site on June 25.

Lesser Snapdragon or Weasels Snout (Misopates orontium): First flowers at Havant New Lane allotments on June 26.

Water Forget me not: Fresh flowers in Havant on June 29.

Sheep's Bit: First flowers at south Hayling on June 25.

Hedge Bedstraw: First flowers on June 25.

Small Scabious: First flowers at Farlington Marshes on June 25.

Shaggy Soldier: Flowering in Emsworth on June 27.

Spear Thistle: Flowering onJune 24.

Creeping Thistle: Flowering in Havant on June 25.

Welted Thistle: Flowering on Hayling on June 25.

Smooth Hawksbeard: Flowering in Havant on June 25.

Bristly Oxtongue: Flowering at Hayling Oysterbeds on June 25.

Perennial Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis): Flowering in Emsworth on June 29.

Stinking Iris: Many plants in flower on Hayling on June 25.

Broad-leaved Helleborine: Flowering at Hastings on June 25.

Greater Butterfly Orchid: Flowering in Hampshire on June 22.

Frog Orchid: Out on Beachy Head on June 25.

Southern Marsh Orchid: The official count of these at the Langstone South Moors on June 29 gave the surprisingly high count of 7420 spikes (in 2010 the count was 9234)

OTHER WILDLIFE

Minke Whale: First report I have seen on one in British waters this year. For more info see http://www.wdcs.org/national_regions/scotland/shorewatch/minke_whale.php

Water Vole: Both adults and young seen at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on June 29. As these voles can have up to five 'litters' between March and October these are likely to be the second 'litter' of this year. For more info see http://www.durhamwt.co.uk/what-we-do/current-projects/water-vole/water-vole- ecology/

Bats: By chance I saw a Pipistrelle hunting over my garden on the evening of June 29 and I see that Durlston mentions Pipstrelle and Noctule on June 27 so I guess warm evenings at this time of year give the amatuer bat watcher a good chance of seeing more than one species.

Pond Life: On June 22 Steve Copsey took some photos of the pond life in his Portsmouth area garden and I was intrigued by the small Leeches which he found under Water Lily leaves. I have in the past been encouraged to walk into a New Forest pond wearing wellies and it only took a few minutes before the large Medicinal Leeches which get their supply of blood from New Forest ponies attached themselve to my boots and more recently I have been told that these large Leech Species occur in Cungre Pond (to be found in the centre of the Cams Hall Golf Course by Fareham Creek). For info on the smaller species that occur in most ponds see http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/leeches.html

Marine life: Brian Fellows has been told that shoals of Cuttlefish are now in the harbours to breed (see the section on mating in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuttlefish for the 'mind games'involved in the sex life of Cuttlefish) but I think they normally arrive earlier than this - see http://www.bsac.com/diverreports.asp?section=1248&itemid=2143 which gives Apr 1 as the date when human divers start to look for them off the Devon coast, and it must have been before the end of June (when the old BTO Common Bird Census period ended) that I can remember Foxes on Warblington Farm bringing recently dead and very smelly Cuttlefish back from the shore to use as 'air fresheners' for their earths though I have not noticed the cuttlefish 'bones' on the shore so far this year.

Cage Fungus (Clathrus ruber): Durlston reported the first find of this uncommon and very unusual fungus. For pictues and info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clathrus_ruber

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JUNE 24 - 30 (WEEK 26 OF 2013) Sat 29 June Some good new flowers at Havant and Broadmarsh Before coming to today's finds I must record a significant find yesterday when cycling back from Emsworth - I stopped to check out a single French Cranesbill flowering beside the road and found it surrounded by a cluster of the first Great Willowherb flowers. Another surprise when I got home came in a phone call from a friend in Nottingham with a vague interest in birding who asked me if I knew what a 'Needle-tailed Whitethroat' was - which I did not but pursuing this query I discovered how a species of Swift which is normally found in the Himalayas had appeared on the isle of Harris in the Hebrides, attracting a mass of twitchers (including one who had travelled for over 12 hours from Epsom in Surrey to arrive shortly before the bird committed suicide by flying into a lone wind turbine. For more on this story see http://maciverblog.co.uk/2013/06/28/twitchers-shock-as- rare-bird-killed-by-drinishader-turbine/ and http://uk400clubrarebirdalert.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/red-red-alert-needle-tailed- swift-on.html. Today I rode to Broadmarsh in search of Hairy Vetchling, finding its first flowers on the 'Broadmarsh Mountain' along with my first Smooth Tare flowers before reaching the cycleway below the A27 where there must have been at least 200 Pyramidal orchids in flower along with the first Common Centaury and Yellow Wort. Also seen in this stretch leading to the eastern entrance to Farlington Marshes were Greater Birds Foot Trefoiil, Slender St John's Wort and my first Corky Fruited Water Dropwort. Heading back to Harts Farm Way I had a look at the old playing fields by the roundabout where a mass of fresh Creeping Yellowcress was in flower and the remains of the Borage which I had found on May 29 was still to be seen. Turning down Southmoor Lane I found Knotted Hedge Parsley in fresh flower and at Budds Farm I saw my very first House Martins of the year along with one adult Swan with two cygnets (the rest of the family, if they existed, remained out of sight as did all but one adult Shelduck). Along the South Moors shore I was delighted to hear at least two singing Meadow Pipits and at Langstone Pond there were several well grown, green-legged, juvenile Egrets among a good crowd of what I think were adults. A couple of new flowers seen at the start of my ride but not mentioned so far were the unexciting Narrow-leaved Pepperwort flowering beside the Langstone roundabout and my first Water Forget-me-not by the Langbrook Stream where it flows under the A27. Thu 27 June Sea Clover and a possible early Gatekeeper at Warblington Today I checked out the extreme south east field of Warblington Farm (adjacent to the Nore Barn wood on the Emsworth shore) for Sea Clover which Bob Chapman had found flowering in the ex-IBM playing fields at the Langstone South Moors back on June 15. I had no difficulty in finding the plants where I had been shown them last year (on the inside of the seawall close to where water from the Warblington eastern stream drains out into the harbour via the tidal flap with its holding pond inside the sea wall) but all had ceased flowering leaving the distinctive empty calyces on the ovoid, stalked flower heads. Walking back along the hedge on the west side of this shore field I saw a butterfly working along the hedge above my head height but eventually coming down to rest on grass at the foot of the hedge. Although I never saw the open top wing its flight pattern along the hedge, and its seemingly smaller size than a Meadow Brown, convinced me it was an early Gatekeeper and this seemed to be confirmed when I found a second butterfly further along the hedge behaving like the first. Back at home I began to have doubts when I found the traditionally Gatekeepers do not emerge until near the end of July and I see that last year the first locally was not out until July 8, but a check of 2011 sightings showed that they started with an absurdly early report of one at Folkestone on Apr 22 followed by reports from several independent observers in Hampshire and Sussex on June 2,4,13,and 26 (when there were two reports, one from Thorney Island and another from Isfield ner Lewes). With these to back me I do not feel that I should be ridiculed for claiming today's sightings as of Gatekeepers - at the time I was convinced that was what they were. Nothing else today but yesterday evening I found the first Weasel's Snout (Lesser Snapdragon/ Misopates orontium) flowers at the New Lane allotments in Havant and on my way there I noticed something whch I had seen about a week ago but not recorded - a flowering plant of Creeping Yellow Cress growing in a tiny speck of soil at the foot of a metal post beside the walk way taking you up from the southern forecourt of Havant Rail Station on to the footbridge over the railway. This reminds me that I am pretty sure that some leaves of a young plant which I have seen recently in the flowerbed at the west end of the main station building beside the Taxi rank are those of a Thorn Apple plant (one or more regularly come up here) Tue 25 June Hayling's west coast Before describing today's trip there are a couple of new flowers to mention from the past couple of days. On Sunday (June 23) I made a surprise find in my front garden when I noticed a plant of Enchanter's Nightshade in full flower and on Monday a short walk in Havant gave me my first flowers on Large Bindweed, Hoary Willowherb and Water Cress. This morning I set off to cycle to Gunner Point on Hayling and made a good start with Musk Mallow in flower before reaching Langstone Bridge. Over the bridge both Hedge and Ladies Bedstraw were flowering beside the Coastal Path and in the Oysterbeds area I found a host of variously coloured Opium Poppies with a few Welted Thistles and Bristly Ox-Tongue. Also on and around the bird nesting islands were (literally) dozens of juvenile Black-Headed Gulls mostly well advanced in flight and plumage though a few were still enjoying the protection of their parents and nests. Where I hoped to see Chris Cockburn there was a large advertising banner telling us to save the Little Tern and advertising the charitable efforts of Veolia (the waste disposal firm) and Havant Borough among others were making in this endeavour - this might have been more beleivable had there been a least one Little Tern in sight. Chris Cockburn's absence prevented me from making a personal apology to both him and Brian Fellows for having queried their statements that the northern of the two islands in the lagoon lay to the east of the southern island - today I brought my compass with me and found that my mental image of which direction was north was out by more than 20 degrees making it true that the northern island was slightly east of the southern one though I still think it would be easier for all to understand if we referred to the two islands a 'north' and 'south' to avoid the need for bringing a compass to know which is which! Continuing south down the Coastal Path I saw much Honeysuckle in flower plus my first two tall spikes of Great Mullein tipped with bright yellow flowers and all along the southern section of the track I kept seeing the unobtrusive mauvish flowers of Stinking Iris. I also saw that one of the large West Lane fields had a crop of Flax just starting to open its bright blue flowers. At the Kench the Bladder Senna bush was in full flower and from the Ferry Road I could already see flowers on Tamarisk and Tree Lupins - these seem to be having a good year with no sign of the fungal disease which sometimes kills off the majority of the bushes before they have finished flowering. Also in the grass beside the Ferry Road I spotted the first deep blue spherical flowers of Sheep's Bit of which I found much more south of the Golf Course. In the sand dunes before reaching Gunner Point I had two pleasant surprises - one was the start of a mass of flowering Rest Harrow, the other just two of the glorious Sea Bindweed flowers emerging from the sand of the dunes. Turning east from the harbour entrance channel I kept near the edge of the bare shingle until I reached the first of the three widely separated red posts holding life-buoys for emergency use. With no current drowning I put the post to good use as a prop for my bike while I cast around for Little Robin plants which I normally find growing on bare shingle close to other vegetation (presumably the other vegetation is an indication of soil not far below the shingle). Today I found by far the biggest number of Little Robin plants that I can ever recall seeing together so if anyone else wants to see this plant I suggest they go to the life-buoy post, walk no more than 10 paces east, then look at a series of 'shingle islands' on the landward side of the grass track - several of these have big clusters of the brownish looking plants with their distinctive yellow anthers shining out from their tiny geranium like flowers. Nothing else of special interest seen south of the Golf Course, though I did hear the quiet anxiety calls of a Ringed Plover which probably had a chick out on the broad stretches of shingle, and my next find was just before I reached the approach road to the Inn on the Beach and the western carparks. Here, close to the south east corner post of the 'mini golf' site one plant of Pale Toadflax had already raised its flower head. Across he approach road I looked in vain for signs of the Proliferous Pink plants (once thought to be Childing Pink) but I did spot a few flowering plants of Rose Campion and, near the Ferry Road, the first white flowers of the mass of Cock's Eggs plants.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JUNE 17 - 23 (WEEK 25 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: Just one report of Red-throated off Portland and one of Black-throated off Selsey this week but spiced up with a White-billed off Aberdeenshire on June 14. Storm Petrels: Strong winds brought several of this up the Channel this week , though no more than two seen at Selsey on one day. Mute Swan: To compete with the daily family entertainment at Emsworth where three families are competing for entertainment ratings (and one poor cygnet has either been subject to a lot of pecking or is loosing the down around it neck as a result of manutrition among the litter in its area of the Town Millpond) an inland bird decided to take to its bed on an area of Martin Down reserved for Stone Curlew posing a 'who gets the benefit of your contributions to the RSPB and DEFRA' problem for the conservation bodies Scaup: A female was reported to be in the Langstone Channel of Langstone Harbour on the afternoon of June 23. This is the first report for Hampshire since a male and two females were in Southampton Water on May 23. Shelduck: Young birds at Christchurch Harbour are said to be now 'full grown' suggesting that it will not be long before the majority of adults leave for their remote moulting beaches. Black Kites: One has been seen more than once in Cambridgeshre this week but maybe it moved down to Bournemouth to make a brief appearance over Bournemouth on June 18 is not known. Honey Buzzard: Sightings over Poole Harbour and the Pulborough area this week probably were of young non -breeding birds. Quail: Late news of one in the Scillies on June 4 has been followed by a string of reports from Portland where at least two attempted to sneak in while Martin Cade was absent on June 18 and at least one was still there on June 22. Avocet: The presence of 11 at Sidlesham Ferry (Pagham Harbour) on June 16, increasing to 23 there on June 21 is being taken as a sign that their autumn passage to the west country has already started as Green Sandpipers and other waders start to return but Avocets at Rye Harbour perhaps have a more urgent need to move on as their newly created wetlands dry out and leave the young birds without food (I don't know the facts about this and am merely picking up 'fag ends') Ruff: Males in breeding plumage have already been seen at Exmouth and Poole Harbour (Swineham) and this week two more arrived at Sandwich Bay on June 21. Black-tailed Godwit: On June 21 an entry in the SOS News by Chris Barfield said .. "A few early autumn migrants on the Sidlesham Ferry pool today - two Green Sandpipers and a juvenile Greenshank, also 25 Black-tailed Godwits and 23 Avocets".. and as I was surprised to hear of migrant Godwits already back with us (whereas I know that many young Godwits stay here through the summer) I thought I would check round for further evidence which led me to discover a website that I really should have been aware of years ago. The URL is http://www.uea.ac.uk/~b026515/icelandic.html which tells you all you need to know about Icelandic Godwits and has photos of two people which I went birding with in the 1980s. Reading from this bible I find that .. "From June onwards, unsuccessful breeders start to gather and flock, in preparation for migration. Some of these birds are reported already back on the wintering grounds in late June." So there is the proof I was looking for Green Sandpiper: These are perhaps the most noticeable evidence of returning breeders this week with five seen together at the Lower Test nesr Southampton and ones and twos newly seen at four other sites in England (and a party of 20 at a Netherlands site. Wilson's Phalarope: A female of this species, which regularly returns early from breeding (but does not often stop off in England) has been at Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) for at least five days this week (June 18 to 22) and you can see Derek Hale's photos of it in the gallery at the head of his web page - see http://iowbirds.awardspace.com/IOW.htm. A female of the commoner Red-necked Phalarope has been at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire this week Black Tern: Another early autumn passage birds was one of these flying west off Spalsh Point in Sussex on June 15. Hoopoe: One was at Hampreston in Dorset (north of Bournemouth) on June 19. Sand Martin: The juveniles in nests at Christchurch Harbour were said to be near fledging on June 19. Red-Rumped Swallow: One was at Swalecliffe on the north Kent coast on June 19. Bearded Tit: On June 13 Bob Chapman reportd that there were young in three nests at Farlington Marshes which would soon be fledging and on June 21 three juveniles were seen at Christchurch Harbour which had probably come from an undetected nest there. If you want to know what the young of this species look like before you go in search of them have a look at http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/38963968 INSECTS Dragonflies: 28 species were on the wing this week, none of them being new for the year. If the weather warms up again we ought to start seeing Southern Hawkers and Common Darters which have already been seen in some places, and Ruddy Darter should not be far behind. Butterflies: Species of interest this week: Large Skipper: The first report was from the Isle of Wight on June 6 with the next two in Sussex on June 14 and 16 but the main emergence was on June 19. Nationally the first was seen on June 2 in Derbyshire. Swallowtail: What was presumably a continental migrant was seen at Durlston on June 2 but the first mention of our natives in Norfolk reached me indirectly on June 16 - on checking with the Norfolk Butterfly Conservation website I found a general statement saying .."The adults are on the wing from mid May to the end of June, and in a good year a second brood from the end of August to mid September. The optimum time, however, is the middle two weeks of June." The BC National site gives the first sighting for 2013 as May 19. Clouded Yellow: Nationally the first sighting was on June 1 in Dorset but the current influx started on June 18 with reports from Sussex and Hampshire. By June 20 I had seen 11 reports, none of more than 2 butterflies so this is not a major invasion. Brimstone: It would seem that this summer's brood also started to emerge around June 15 when there were reports of 20 and 25 seen together, with 8 seen in Havant Thicket on June 19. As the main purpose of these is to survive the winter and produce a new generation next year they will not stay around to enjoy flowers and sunshre this autumn but will soon find a hibernation site and settle down to sleep. Silver Studded Blue: These started to emerge on June 19 in Sussex and June 20 in Hampshire though nationally the first was out on June 4 in Cornwall. Large Blue: The first to emerge at the Collard Hill re-introduction site in Somerset was out on June 14. White Admiral: This has not yet appeared on the national website but two were reported in the Straits Enclosure near Alton on June 19. No further confirmation.. Painted Lady: Five of these arrived at Portland on June 14 and they have not ceased to arrive in scattered small numbers since then. At least one got as far west as Cornwall on June 18 and on June 19 there was a local sighting in Havant Thicket Small Tortoiseshell: On June 19 I had a brief sight of one which looked pristine and very active while I was at Warblington near Havant which made me wonder if the summer generation might have started to emerge. Looking at the rough records I keep I found a two week gap in reported sightings from June 5 to 18 when one was seen at Rye Harbour, while my sighting was followed by one of three together at Emsworth on June 21 providing some support for my suggestion. Dark Green Fritillary: Naationally the first report came from Somerset on June 10 followed by one in Hampshire on June 14 and one in Sussex on June 18. Wall Brown: Nationally the first to be seen was in Dorset on May 1 followed by one on the Isle of Wight on May 10, another in Kent on June 12 and one in Sussex on May 19 but Hampshire did not see its first until June 8 (in the Lymington area). Meadow Brown: After an isolated sighting in Sussex on May 26 no more were reported until June 5 when just one was seen at Martin Down. Eventually a more normal scene was reported when there were sitghtins at five sites (including Brook Meadow at Emsworth) on June 19 though no others have been reported since. Nationally the first report was from Derbyshire on May 22 (a more normal date for general emergence). Monarch: Last week we reported that one potential trans Atlantic migrant had reached the Gosport area on June 17 and this week there is a second report of one at Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight on June 19 with the comment .. "Monarch seen along the Yarmouth old railway line between the station and gate to Mill Copse at around 13.30. We saw it flying powerfully past us from northeast to southwest along the track as we stood next to the Station Pond. It cut through the hedge between the track and the estuary and disappeared off to the west. We were unable to relocate it" Other Insects Giant Lacewing (Osmylus fulvicephalus): One seen at Folkestone on June 15. For a photo and brief details go to http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/giant- lacewing Longhorn Beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens): Seen by Bob Chapman at the Swanwick (Fareham area) nature reserve on June 22. For Bob's photo see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/agapanthia- villosoviridescens.jpg?w=500&h=374. Longhorn Beetle (Rhagium mordax): Not the first time we have come across this recently but Bob's photo from June 22 is worth a look - see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/rhagium- mordax.jpg?w=500&h=375. Fleabane Tortoise Beetle larva : For the adult beetle (which looks very like a Ladybird) see http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_orchard/5853819478/ but for Bob Chapman's photo of the extraordinary looking larva, which continues to carry all its discarded 'baby clothes' around on its back as camouflage, see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/fleabane-tortoise-beetle- larva.jpg?w=500&h=374. Graeme Lyons latest insect finds: As time is running out for me to complete this week's summary I will leave you to make your own investigations in Graeme's latest finds by visiting his blog at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/. He has some interesting and colourful beetles and spiders in his entries called 'Land of the Giants' on June 20 and 'Tales of the Inexpectus' when he was at Rye Harbour with the British Arachnological Society on June 16. PLANTS Adders Tonque: Earlier this year Bob Chapman found a new site for this north of the A27 at Farlington Marshes and this week he has found yet another site near the ponds in 'The Bushes'. Annual Wall Rocket: I noticed the first flowers for the year in Havant on June 17 but I do not expect to see the Perennial Wall Rocket which flowered profusely on railway land near the now disused Signal Box where the land has recently been 'cleaned up'. Common Scurvygrass (Cochlearia officinalis): I was not aware that this species could be found locally but Brian Fellows says .. "On June 15 while walking round Bosham Harbour I found some white-flowered plants which I thought at first were English Scurvygrass on the roadside embankment on eastern side of the harbour opposite the town. I brought a sample home and on closer inspection they appeared to fit the description of Common Scurvygrass (Cochlearia officinalis agg) in my guides. In particular, the upper leaves were clasping the stem and the pods were rounded." See photo at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x741-scurvygrass-bosham- 15.06.13.jpg. Subsequently Brian has had confirmation from Martin Rand (Hants BSBI recorder) that this is Common Scurvygrass. Fat Hen: I first noticed this for the year when at Warblington Farm on June 19. Bastard Toadflax: John Goodspeed found this speciality had started to flower on Portsdown on June 19. Small Flowered Cranesbill: I first found this flowering in Havant on June 21 after discarding several other candidates which did not have the 'close shaven' flower stems. Sea Clover: Bob Chapman came on the first of this for the year on June 15 in a new site - the ex-IBM Playing Fields at the sea end of Southmoor Lane in Havant. Meadow Vetchling: I came across this in flower for the first time in the Havant Cemetery on June 17 Cockspur Thorn tree: These ornamental trees were newly flowering at both Havant and Warblington cemeteries this week. Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis): This relative of the common Salad Burnet of our downland is very much less common than it so Brian Fellows was very surprised recently to find he had half a dozen plants of it flowering at Brook Meadow in Emsworth where it was previously quite unknown. Maybe they came from windborne seed (unlikely to have brought several plants to the same spot, maybe they came with soil attached to trees planted here or with introduced orchids, or maybe we have a mysterious human at work (like the rumoured 'Portchester Postman' who is said to have introduced the colony of Field Cow- Wheat that grows on Portsdown Hill when it is only officially found on the Isle of Wight). Square-stalked Willowherb: I found this flowering on June 19. Corky-fruited Water Dropwort: Brian Fellows found the first of this in flower on Thorney Island on June 16. Wild Carrot: Brian was also the first to come across this in flower on June 19. Common Sea Lavender: And Brian also was the first to see this on June 19. Blue Water-Speedwell: And this at Brook Meadow on June 21. Black Horehound: First flowers seen at Warblington Farm on June 19. Self Heal: Flowering from June 12. Hound's Tongue: Reported flowering at Durlston on June 18. Carrot Broomrape: Also flowering at Durlston on June 18. Adria Bellflower (Campanula portenshlagiana): This had arrived in the Havant St Faith's churchyard as a new casual when I was there on June 17 (look by the steps down into the Homewell Street). Wall Lettuce: A lot of this grows on the wall of Homewell House close by the steps just mentioned but this year I noticed the first plant in full flower down a back alley of North Street in Havant on June 17. Pyramidal Orchid: First flowers reported at Durlston on June 20. OTHER WILDLIFE Basking Shark: First report I have seen was from Cornwall on June 15

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JUNE 17 - 13 (WEEK 25 OF 2013) Wed 19 June Warblington cemetery and marsh The hottest day of the year found me at Warblington intending to start my tour in the old cemetery but when I saw that the gate into the cemetery at the end of Church Lane was broken I decided to walk through the churchyard, then tour the cemetery extension followed by a circuit of the marshy SSSI field, ending with the old cemetery and coming home with 65 photos to choose from to illustrate my finds. Highspots included first flowers on Square-stemmed Willowherb, Black Horehound, Brookweed and Ladies Bedstraw plus a reasonable count of 55 Marsh Orchids and the fierce spines of Spiny Restharrow (no sign of flowers yet). Among the insects seen a very fresh looking Small Tortoiseshell was too busy to pause for a photo and made me wonder if it was the first of this year's brood which traditionally does not emerge until July. Nothing special in the way of birds but I did have a Buzzard low overhead and had a close view of a Green Woodpecker in the old cemetery. Something which struck me as being notable by its absence among a list of 14 bird species heard singing, even including a Skylark!, was Robin song - I cannot recall hearing one for a week or more. One unexpected encounter was with a man even older than myself who told me of being in an aircraft that made an emergency landing on Thorney Island airfield when damaged during a wartime encounter - even more interesting was that he was a native of Brazil who had been recruited to the RAF by a team sent out from Britain during the war to search for badly needed recruits in Central and South America. Getting back to business here is what I found in the Cemetery extension. First impression was that there was nothing in the way of wildflower interest to be seen but if you look at the top right of the first overview photo there is a small patch of white and the second photo shows that that patch is a dense mass of Scented Mayweed with a few Common Poppies while a close look also found Anthemis austriaca, a cultivated form of our native Corn Chamomile. Walking round the edge of the main wildflower area, which at first appeared devoid of flowers, I came on two colourful minature Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) flowers and when I reached the natural burial area single flowers of Corn Cockle and Salsify were found - next month the whole of this east end will be a very colourful mass of flowers as densely packed as was the small white patch with which we started today.

In the marshy (SSSI) farm field east of the old cemetery I soon began to find South Marsh Orchids and counted 55 before reaching the shore area. Among other things in this area was a lot of Tufted Forget-me-not which had almost finished flowering but still showed the small flowers which distinguish it from Water Forget-me-not. While here I did capture an image of a Green Veined White butterfly One of the Southern Marsh Orchids, a poor image of Tufted Forget-me-not and a better one of a Green veined White Coming out of the marsh onto level grassland I found a mass of Sea Milkwort which would easily escape attention without a close look, and all along the winding channels which are filled with sea water at the higher tides many plants of Brookweed grow (though many are eaten by the cattle). Both these two species are related to the Primrose though they are both limited to saline soil. Sea Milkwort above and Brookweed below In the seawall area I was surprised to find two plants of Spiny Restharrow, immediately recognizable despite the absence of flowers by their needle-like thorns which can be seen in my photo. Returning to the Church Path up the drier west side of the marsh I spotted two additions to my 'day list' of wild flowers - one was Hedge Woundwort, the other Silverweed which gets its name from the silvery sheen oon the underside of its leaves (not visible in the photo. When I reached the old cemetery one of my first finds was of Creeping Cinquefoil which might be confused with the Silverweed if you only look at the ground hugging bright yellow flowers though the leaves are totally different

Central to the left photo is one of the vicious spines fo Spiny Restharrow - the right photo is of the soft Hedge Woundwort.

Silverweed constrasted with Creeping Cinquefoil At the east end of the cemetery I came on a great display of Dotted Loosestrife, a cultivated form of wild Yellow Loosetrife which can be found in the Staunton Country Park beside the track from Hammonds Land Coppice to Rowlands Castle just after you leave the woodland. To separate the two you need to look at the calyx below the yellow flower - Dotted Loosetrife has its calyx split into all green 'fingers' while the wild species has these fingers covered with an orange colour. My second photo shows this evidence.

Dotted Loosestrife clump and its distinguishing green calyx Another sign of approaching summer was the flowering of large blue Meadow Cranesbill, small stripy pink French Cranesbill and the red flowered Gladiolus imitating the wild Gladioli to be found in the New Forest.

Meadow and French Cranesbill plus a Gladiolus Next month the yellow strands of Ladies Bedstraw will be commonplace but today the only examples I could find are shown below, only just opening their tiny flowers. In contrast the central avenue of treesgave the feeling, especially in today's heatwave, that summer was already here. Tiny first flowers of Ladies Bedstraw contrasting with the avenue of maturing trees Mon 17 June Around Havant My monthly visits to the Havant cemeteries in order to prepare the current wildlife posters for their noticeboards are due this week and so this morning I took my camera to the Havant New Lane cemetery. Before getting there I added Annual Wall-Rocket to my flower list for the year (though the plant was behind a metal fence making a photograph impossible). In the cemetery much of the grass had been cut and I feared that there would be few plants to record, though the smell of new mown hay was delightful, but in fact I came away with 52 photos which included my first Meadow Vetchling, several ornamental flowers, and a couple of chance shots of insects (though I failed to capture Holly Blue and Speckled Wood butterflies which I saw). My first photos were of flowers on a Cockspur thorn tree near the Holocaust Memorial building and of the orange flowers on a nearby Rose bush to which I have added the yellow roses of a different bush and the startling orange flowers of Californian Poppies (Eschscholzia) Some colourful flowers for June - see text above Moving towards the eastern wall I came on a carefully tended grave with Pansies and Lily of the Valley planted in gravel and then found myself in an area where the long grass had been cut and left, temporarily covering older graves. For further contrast I looked over the wall into the 'spoil heaps' of the allotments on which Russian Comfrey and Fumitory were among the lush growth of weeds. Contrasting images - see text above In the St Faith's section the grass (other than the pathways) had not been cut and here I found a much more varied scene including my first flowers for the year of Meadow Vetchling, a mass of the tiny white stars of Lesser Stitchwort flowers, the developing seed pods of the young Hornbeam tree, and even captured a picture of a resting Helophilus Hoverfly These were found in the unmown St Faith's section To end my visit I entered the URC section where new paths have been cut and here I found a Cinnabar Moth taking a brief rest and also enjoyed the flowers of Burnet and Dog Roses plus a fresh plant of White Bryony. These were found in the URC section of the cemetery On my way home I looked in at St Faith's churchyard where I did not expect much as I knew the grass had been cut recently but I also knew that young Jackdaws had just flown from their nests. Last week parent Jackdaws were harrying Crows that might see the young birds as a tasty meal and their flights and 'verbal abuse' could be seen and heard even over my home a good 300 metres from the church, and when I happened to pass the church during that week I saw one newly fledged youngster looking lost and helpless on the ground. Today a pair of adults attracted my attention by their calls and I got a photo of them perched on the church weather vane while on the ground I could only see a heap of black feathers. To make up for this tragedy I discovered a new (for me) flower species growing at the foot of the brick 'corner post' of the churchyard in the corner nearest the Homewell spring. This will have arrived here as a windborne seed from some garden planting of Campanula portenschlagiana, a native of Dalmatia known in English as the Adria Bellflower. A more familiar native wildflower, the Dog Rose, can just be seen in my final photo. Photos from St Faith's Churchyard.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JUNE 10 - 16 (WEEK 24 OF 2013) BIRDS Storm Petrel: On June 12 at least 40 were off Newlyn in Cornwall and next day one had been blown east to be seen off Selsey Bill where there were two separate sightings on June 13.

Squacco Heron: On June 8 the first to appear in Britain this year was seen in the Bembridge Marshes on the Isle of Wight and it remained there until at least June 14.

Black Stork: One flew over Pulborough Brooks on June 7 to be the fifth sighting in the south of England this year.

Spoonbill: There have been up to three on the Lymington shore this week and on June 14 what was probably one of them was at Titchfield Haven.

Mute Swan:Emsworth has been holding a festival of cygnets this week with a total of 12 cygnets on show - pride of place was taken by the Peter Pond pair with 8 cygnets (hatched on June 12 and still intact on June 15), next came the pair which also hatched 8 cygnets on June 1 in the Marina but which now only have three left, and finally there is the one cygnet that remains from the five eggs laid in the Millpond 'litter nest'

Brent Goose: The few birds that remain here through the summer normally settle down in parts of the Solent harbours where they can escape detection until they have completed their moult and sense that the migrants will soon be back. This year the cut-off date after which any birds seen will be summering here seems to have been May 24 when a party of 710 were seen in the Netherlands. Since then a summering party of four have been reported in the Fishbourne Channel of Chichester Harbour on May 31 and single birds have been seen in Portsmouth Harbour (near Pewit Island) and in Poole Harbour (Brand's Bay) with at least one remaining in Southampton Water (Weston Shore) on May 31. The Poole Harbour bird may have moved to Christchurch Harbour, where one was seen on June 12, in a search for company and another possibly lonely bird was seen flying east past Dungeness on June 11.

Osprey: The bird seen on the artificial nest at the Thorney Island Great Deeps from June 7 to 10 has not been reported since then but the bird(s) at Arlington Reservoir have been seen from June 8 to 13.

Red-Footed Falcon: A 'possible' sighting of one over East Wittering on June 13 has not been confirmed.

Peregrine: Young have fledged from nests in Bournemouth (2 or 3 juvs on June 8) and the Winchester Police HQ (2 juvs on June 14) Quail: Two heard calling at Martin Down on June 9 were the first I know of in the UK this year and were also the last of the summer migrant species to arrive. American Golden Plover: One has been in the Cuckmere Haven area near Beachy Head from June 11 to June 14 at least. For a series of photos go to http://seafordbirding.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/cuckmere-havenvalley-14613.html (the photos do not show the underwing)

Ruff: A male in breeding plumage was at Swineham (between Wareham and Poole Harbour) on June 11 and a photo of it can be seen at http://2.bp.blogspot.com/- jYGWLS7OzNs/UbeRJlPUtpI/AAAAAAAAAbA/3esVTCO7XIs/s400/Swineham- Ruff-2.jpg.

Long-tailed Skua: What seems to be only the third to attempt the English Channel route this summer was a first summer bird seen from Berry Head near Brixham in Devon on June 10.

Little Gull: Singles were seen this week at the Chichester Gravel Pits (June 10), in Portsmouth Harbour (June 11) and in Poole Harbour (June 14).

Herring Gull: We hear a lot about gulls deserting the coast in favour of our cities with their many safe breeding sites and plentiful fast food but I was a little surprised to read of some 1000 Herring Gulls and a few Lesser Black-backs feeding on Dartmoor this week where they presented a minor hazard for motorists.

Caspian Tern: This giant of the Tern world was seen at the Testwood Lakes near Southampton on June 9 and briefly at Radipole near Weymouth on June 11 before moving to West Bexington (north of Weymouth) that day and staying there over June 12. For Bob Chapman's photo of the Testwood bird see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/caspian-tern- 2.jpg?w=500&h=375

Sandwich Tern: An indication that some of our summer visitors are 'voting with their wings' against the intolerable weather conditions in Britain this summer came on June 13 when some 400 Sandwich Terns plus 25 Common and 20 Little Terns flew west past Christchurch Harbour. On that same day I hear that the Common Tern colony at Lodmoor near Weymouth (proudly advertised by the RSPB as the largest such colony in south west England) had been deserted during the previous night. Swift: On June 10 my first (and perhaps only) Swift sighting for the year came when two birds showed for less the ten seconds over trees at the bottom of my garden. Maybe the lack of insect food and the high winds which are preventing the majority of Swifts, Swallow and House Martins from Nesting this summer is having a global effect - at any rate a single Pacific Swift flew down the east coast on June 12, being seen at Spurn Head and in Lincolnshire before making a short stay at Trimley Marshes near Felixstowe in Suffolk where Matt Eade photographed it - see http://seafordbirding.blogspot.co.uk/.

Red-Rumped Swallow: One was over the Bembridge area of rhe Isle of Wight on June 9.

Meadow Pipit: Of local interest at least one and maybe two birds were making song flights over the Langstone South Moors on June 5.

Grey-headed Wagtail (M.f. thunbergi): One reported at Cuckmere Haven near Beachy Head on June 13 - for photos seen http://seafordbirding.blogspot.co.uk/ (Scroll down past the photos of Pacific Swift and American Golden Plover).

Marsh Warbler: Following the recent discussion of a bird claimed as a Marsh Warbler at Gosport I was interested to see that on June 10 RBA was reporting a total of 6 of these birds in the UK.

Dartford Warbler: I have not seen any reports of these on Hayling Island this year and to make up for the lack of visual sightings I enjoyed a photo of one in Dorset this week - see http://3.bp.blogspot.com/- B12eN4GhMmc/UbeQzr3hegI/AAAAAAAAAa4/2jHOWDNGcFY/s400/1238dartfor d.jpg.

Bearded Tit: On June 13 Bob Chapman saw males carrying food to three different nests in the reeds at Falington Marshes and hopes we will soon be seeing many newly fledged birds

Jay: The mystery of the wandering Jays continues with unexpected sightings of one at Portland on June 10 and 2 at Dungesness on June 11.

Jackdaw: With vivid memories (from Springwatch on TV) of the perils faced by juvenile Jackdaws before they fledge I was interested to note the fledging process of local breeders in the tower of St Faith's Church here in Havant. On June 10 and 11 several adult Jackdaws were seen harrying Crows in the air above my garden (some 300 metres from the church) and on June 12 I saw one newly fledged Jackdaw looking lost on the ground in the church yard where the grass had been recently mown. Nearby among the mown grass was a pile of black feathers - I doubt the bird from which they came had been mown to death but the presence of the feathers did not bode well for the live youngster on the ground.

Black-headed Bunting: On June 8 one was seen and heard singing near the Compton Bay carpark near Freshwater on the Isle of Wight. The bird was still in the same area on June 11.

INSECTS

Dragonflies: 26 species have been reported on the British Dragonfly Society's Latest Sightings page since I scanned it for last week's summary. Azure Damsel Azure Hawker (Aeshna caerulea): First seen on June 7 in Scotland. Broad-bodied Chaser, Beautiful Demoiselle, Brilliant Emerald, Banded Demoiselle, Blue Tailed Damsel, Black Tailed Skimmer, Common Blue Damsel, Common Darter, Downy Emerald, Emperor, Four Spotted Chaser, Gold Ringed Dragonfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Keeled Skimmer, Large Red Damsel. Northern Damsel (Coenagrion hastulatum): First seen on June 8 in North Yorkshire. Northern Emerald (Somatochlora arctica): First seen on June 12 in Scotland. Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isoceles): First seen on June 6 in Norfolk. Red Eyed Damsel, Scarce Blue Tailed Damsel, Scarce Chaser. Southern Damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale): First seen on June 7 in Wales. White-faced Darter, White Legged Damsel

Butterflies:

Large Skipper: First reported last week on June 6 but no sightings since then. Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Green Hairstreak, Small Copper, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Holly Blue, Duke of Burgundy, Red Admiral. Painted Lady: A small arrival of migrants between June 8 and 14 in Sussex and Hampshire. Peacock, Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary Dark Green Fritillary: First of year on June 14 in the New Forest. Marsh Fritillary: First of year on June 2 at Martin Down in Hampshire. See http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/marsh- fritillary.jpg?w=500&h=373. Glanville Fritillary, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown. Meadow Brown: Still no further reports one sighting in Sussex on May 26 and one in Hampshire on June 5. Small Heath.

Other Insects Microdon analis Hoverfly: Seen by Graeme Lyons at Graffham near Midhurst on June 8. See http://www.hoverfly.org.uk/album_page.php?pic_id=57.

Moss Carder Bee (Bombus muscorum): First report for the year from Brook Meadow in Emsworth on June 14.

Speckled Longhorn Beetle (Pachytodes cerambyciformis): Found at Graffham by Graeme Lyons on June 8. See http://www.flickr.com/photos/od0man/5789721944/.

Phyllobius weevil species: See http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/6/13/torquoise-weevil.html.

Oak Longhorn Beetle (Pyrrhidium sanguineum): Another Longhorn beetle species found by Graeme Lyons on June 11 at the Knepp Castle estate. See http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q1gk42pzUhc/S60ZVV3othI/AAAAAAAAJ64/muPn3g78 xiM/s400/oak_longicorn2.jpg.

'Thigh Beetle'(Oedemera nobilis): First sighting of the year at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on June 14. This was a female which does not have the distinctive enlarged 'thighs' of the male. See http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x741-thigh-beetle-fem-bm- 14.06.13.jpg.

Six spotted Longhorn Beetle (Anoplodera sexguttata): Seen in the Roydon Woods near Lymington on June 9 - see http://www.treknature.com/gallery/photo226511.htm.

PLANTS

Yellow Horned Poppy:This had started flowering at Rye Harbour on June 7 but I did not see it locally near the Hayling Oysterbeds until June 14 when I also found the leaves of one Milk Thistle there to show that the species has not disappeared there.

Dames Violet: These had started to flower (both white and violet forms) at the Hayling Oysterbeds on June 14.

Weld: The first flowers of this were also seen at the Oysterbeds on June 14.

Corn Cockle: These were in full flower at the Lymbourne Spring conseration area here in Havant on June 13.

Lesser Stitchwort: I found a few plants of this in flower back on May 22 but have seen no more since then so a find by Brian Fellows on Thorney Island on June 14 may mark the real start of general flowering.

Common Mallow: This started to flower here in Havant on June 10.

Hop Trefoil: First flowers seen on June 14 both at Langstone and on Thorney Island.

Tufted Vetch: Newly flowering by the Hayling Coastal Path on June 14.

Grass Vetchling: Although this had been found in flower elsewhere on June 3 I did not find it locally on the top of the Broadmarsh 'mountain' until June 7.

Yellow Vetchling (Lathyrus aphaca): Found by John Goodspeed flowering in the Paulsgrove Chalkpit on June 14.

Horseshoe Vetch: Although first reported in Sussex (Heyshott Down) on May 17 the first report of it on Portsdown was not until June 14.

Kidney Vetch: This had been reported flowering at Durlston on May 16 but was not seen on Portsdown until June 13.

Sainfoin: This too was flowering at Durlston on June 1 and the huge swathe flowering on Portsdown by June 13 suggested it must have started there about the same date.

Rock or Entire Leaved Cotoneaster (C. integrifolius): This was in full flower on Portsdown on June 13 and my photos of it can be seen at http://ralph- hollins.net/Diary.htm#1306.

Sweetbriar Rose:First flower open on June 12 at the Billy Trail carpark below the Havant Art Centre - photo at http://ralph-hollins.net/ROSB136.jpg.

Japanese Rose (Rosa rugosa): This has been widely planted around the Havant area and on June 5 I was impressed by the growth of what was a single small bush on the Langtone South Moors into the massive bush that I found found this year - see http://ralph-hollins.net/Diary.htm#0506.

Sulphur Cinguefoil: Briian Fellows found this flowering on June 11 in the Bridge Road carpark at Emsworth.

Dogwood: General flowering started on June 12.

Hemlock: General flowering started on June 7.

Corky Fruited Water Dropwort: Flowering in the Hastings area from June 10.

Field Bindweed: First flowers on Thorney Island on June 14.

Small Yelow or Straw Foxglove: Just two plants with their flowers not yet open on Portsdown at the Nelson Lane/Skew Road site on June 13. The bnk on which these grow has been so overgrown with scrub that I fear these plants will soon cease to grow there.

Common Toadflax: First plant seen in flower at Langstone on June 14.

Purple Toadflax: Starting to flower in Havant from June 12.

Heath Speedwell: Several clumps flowering at Broadmarsh in Havant on June 7 with more seen on Portsdown on June 13.

Field Cow Wheat: Only around half a dozen plants in flower at the Skew Road site above Portchester on June 13 where there has been a large carpet of the flowers in the past.

Wild Thyme: Newly flowering on Portsdown on June 13.

Hedge Woundwort: General flowering started on June 14.

Self Heal: Flowering in Havant from June 12.

Tufted Forget-me-not: First flowers on the Langstone South Moors on June 5.

Vipers Bugloss: First flowers seen in June 7 in Havant.

Common Broomrape: Reported flowering at Durlston on June 12.

Sea Plantain: Flowering on the Langstone shore on June 14.

Guelder Rose: Flowering in Havant from Jun 7.

Honeysuckle: First flowers seen on June 14.

Common Ragwort: First flowers seen in Emsworth on June 13.

Pineappleweed: First flowers seen on June 10.

Melancholy Thistle: A couple of flowering plants in the Lymbourne Spring conservation area puzzled me but they turned out o be Melancholy Thistles which I understand only grow naturally in England north of Durhan.

Black Knapweed: First flower seen on Portsdown on June 13.

Rosy Garlic: Several clumps flowering on Portsdown around the Collyers Pit area on June 13 but I fear the plants in the small west carpark at Broadmarsh may have been destroyed however Brian Fellows has found a new site at Bosham.

Twayblade Orchid: Flowering at Durlston on June 13.

Bee Orchid: One was in flower at Broadmarsh on June 7.

OTHER WILDLIFE

Angular Crab (Goneplax rhomboides): See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goneplax_rhomboides. This gets into the news on account of a sighting of an injured specimen (unable to demonstrate its ability to make a fast getaway) on the shore of Rye Bay on June 8.

Fish: On June 12 Graeme Lyons joined the staff of Chichester Harbour Conservancy monitoring marine life in the harbour. Species mentioned by Graeme were Reticulated Dragonet,Great Pipefish,Long-legged Spider Crab,Sand Smelt,Black Goby,Pollack,Herring,Common Goby, Shanny, Sea Bass, Long-spined Sea Scorpion,Mackerel,Chameleon Prawn. For Graeme's full account with some photos see http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/youre-gonna- need-bigger-boat.html.

Undulate Ray (Raja undulata): On June 11 these Rays, together with Smooth Hounds and Spurdog (two species of Shark), had come inshore in the Swanage area to feed on crabs which were temporarily without their normal protection as they moulted. Crab species reported on the Durlston Country Park webstie were Edible, Hermit, Spider and Velvet Swimming Crab

Sea Gooseberry (Pleurobrachia pileus): On June 8 several of these had become stranded on the shore of Rye Bay. For photos and facts see http://www.arkive.org/sea-gooseberry/pleurobrachia-pileus/.

Fungi: Not many around at the moment but on June 7 I came on a good example of a Dryad's Saddle bracket on a tree stump in Havant. See http://ralph- hollins.net/Diary.htm#0706.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JUNE 10 - 16 (WEEK 24 OF 2013)

Thu 13 June

A windy but rewarding day on Portsdown On a very windy morning I headed for the Portsdown carpark on the east side of the London Road to check out the Sainfoin flowers which was reported flowering at Durlston back on June 1 which may well have been the case here to judge by the great mass of flowers on the hill in the unmown swathe of grass just below the carpark.

Part of a swathe of Sainfoin flowers with a misty view towards the Solent

Closer views of the windswept Sainfoin flowers Heading west towards the trees surrounding Collyer's Pit I found more than expected of the Rosy Garlic which has established itself here in recent years

First view of one of several clumps of Rosy Garlic in the grass around the trees

Closer view of the Rosy Garlic flowers On the close mown grass around the sliproad to London Road I tok photos of both Wild Thyme and Kidney Vetch.

Wild Thyme and Kidney Vetch Crossing the sliproad I waded into the waving mass of tall grass left uncut to protect the variety of wild flowers on this chalk soil and soon found a good example of Hoary Plantain just opening its scented flowers. Among the many other flowers here was a mass of Squinancywort but none of its tiny flowers were yet open and the same was true of Fairy Flax and Hedge Bedstraw. After pushing through a wall of Ox-eye Daisies in search of Common Spotted Orchids on the slope down to the London Road (none worth showing here) I was impressed by the amount of Cotoneaster integrifolius (called Rock Cotoneaster by the Fitters, Entire-leaved Cotoneaster by Stace and Small Leaved Cotoneaster in the Hants Flora) and did record that.

Flower head of Hoary Plantain

Rock Cotoneaster taking over the ground (road bridge over London Rd just visible top left) I now walked over the roadbridge to the west side of the London Road where I found my first Knapweed flower as well as both Common Spotted and Bee Orchids, the latter found among the great variety of yellow flowers currently out.

Black Knapweed, Common Spotted Orchid and Bee Orchid by the London Road west side slip road Back at the car with my available time running out I drove west to Skew Road running down over the M27 to Portchester where I found a smaller than usual display of Field Cow-Wheat and a greatly reduced area in which the Small Yellow Foxgloves can grow as scrub covers their hillside beside Nelson Lane.

Field Cow-Wheat showing the non-chalky ground habitat, the overall plant and a close up of the flowers Back at home after lunch the sun started to shine and this seemed a good opportunity to get a photo of the lovely Sweetbriar flower which I had seen yesterday in the carpark on the Hayling Billy line below the Arts Centre. I went to the south west corner of the old HCC section of the carpark but found that the brilliant colour of the one flower (first for the year) had already faded but luckily it had been replaced by another equally eye catching flower, though I could not smell the strong apple scent which was in the air yesterday and which persuaded me that this was genuine Sweetbriar.

Sweetbriar Rose in the Hayling Billy Line carpark As I was very close I went to the 'Lymbourne Triangle' conservation area and photographed the Corn Cockles and the Melancholy Thistle currently on show with many other plants (including a newly imported Common Spotted Orchid). Back at home I identified the Thistle and realised why I had not recognized it earlier - it is not a Hampshire species and is only found growing naturally north of Durham! Another import to the Grove Road conservation area which had puzzled me when I first saw it was the Greater Quaking Grass (Briza maxima) which is not listed in the Hants Flora though it is no doubt found in many Hampshire gardens.

View of the Lymbourne Triangle conservation area and a close up of a Corn Cockle flower

Melancholy Thistle flower and one clump of Greater Quaking Grass (Briza Maxima) Mon 10 June Two Swifts seen for ten seconds While out in my garden after breakfast I saw my first Swift of the year hawking for insects over the trees along the Hayling Billy line and as I watched it was joined by a second bird before both vanished into the distance - at a guess they were in view for no more than ten seconds. As none now nest nearby it is quite likely that those ten seconds will be my only contact with the species for this year and that is a noticeable change from the well remembered years when Swifts would be seen daily from the beginning of May to the end of July In the evening I cycled up New Lane for a brief visit to the Bartons Road playing fields where the Lavant Stream which has followed the railway south from Rowlands Castle runs along the east side of the playing fields and supports a good variety of plant life. I saw nothing new there but alongside New Lane I noticed two newly flowering plants - Common Mallow and Pineapple Weed.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAY 27 - JUNE 2 (WEEK 22 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: All three species can occasionally still be seen but in small numbers

Little Egret: On May 30 Nik Knight was the first to discover that the Egrets at Langstone Pond had started to hatch when he saw three juveniles in one nest - he commented that one of the young looked bigger than the others which is the result of the parents starting to incubate as soon as the first of up to six eggs are laid at the rate of one a day. I went to the pond on May 31 and had no difficulty in seeing 15 nest with adults present(there may be twice that number of nests with the others hidden by foliage - those in trees on the 'mainland' are more difficult to spot than those of the 'island') but I only saw one youngster in one of the few nests which you have any chance of seeing into. Peter Raby visited the pond on June 1 and saw young in four nests and as the young grow over the next four weeks we should see a lot more before they finally leave their nests (before this they may well be seen climbing around on branches close to the nest). Even though we cannot see many of the young we can hear the delightful 'gargling' baby talk as the adults communicate with their young and see more aggression between parents whose nests are too close to each other for comfort of the adults.

Great White Egret: One was seen at Brading Marsh on the IoW on May 26 and what was probably the same bird was at the Testwood Lakes close to Southampton on May 30

Spoonbill: Possibly the same bird was seen at Christchurch Harbout on May 25, then at Farlington Marshes on May 27 and 28, before reaching Rye Harbour on May 30

Mute Swan: On May 27 the nest at the Farlington Marshes Deeps produced 6 cygnets and on June 1 a brood of eight cygnets appeared in Emsworth Harbour, presumably from a nest hidden from easy viewing on the north wall of the Emsworth Marina. A further 8 cygnets may emerge in the next day or so from the very visible nest in Emsworth's Peter Pond in which 8 eggs have been seen and six more will hopefully hatch in the town Millpond on June 7 or thereabouts.

Cackling Canada Goose: A bird assumed to be of this 'half-size' species was at Titchfield Haven on May 29 and 31. What is probably the same bird was seen at the Testwood Lakes on at least six dates between June 26 and Aug 14 in 2011 and at the nearby Lower Test Marshes on just two days (Jan 27 and Oct 20) in 2012. I wonder where it spends the rest of its time?

Shelduck: The first young that I have heard of this year were a brood of 8 seen in Langstone Harbour entrance on May 25 and they were followed by by a family of 5 ducklings on Alresford Pond on May 27. A single bird seen on the mud off Northey marina (Hayling Island) on May 22 may well have a mate sitting nearby but a pair of adults seen sitting ou the high tide in a newly planted Sweetcorn crop on Warblington Farm on May 30 are unlikely to produce their own young this year but may be waiting for a job as child-minders to young left behind when their real parents fly off to moult .

Garganey: A pair at Rye Harbour had hatched young which were seen there on May 30.

Pochard: These also had juvs on show at Rye Harbour on May 30

Honey Buzzard: These are clearly still arriving in this country with reports this week of sightings over The Kent Stour valley, Folkestone, off the Devon coast, over Christchurch Harbour and over Portland (on both May 26 and 28).

Hobby: Late news from the Kent Stour valley on May 19 is of a total of 34 Hobbies hunting there, many of them probably arriving together as a migrant flock.

Peregrine: I have long been aware that Peregrines nest in public view on the cliff of the Paulsgrove chalk pit on Portsdown but I had not seen the nest for myself until May 27 when my visit there happenend to coincide with my meeting with a local man who has been watching them for the past six years, and with a visit to the nest by both the male (tiercel) and one of last year's young which drew the female (falcon) of the nest to let me see all three in flight, to hear them calling, and then to see the falcon return to the nest where the tiercel joined her and I could see them both from the new metal bench seat near the south east corner of the pit. Something which few people have seen clearly is the actual moment of impact when a Peregrine strikes a Woodpigeon in flight and even fewer will have seen that strike in a photo apparently showing a Magpie about to strike the Peregrine down and steal its prey but this is shown in the second of three superb shots in the May 30 entry on Keith Pritchard's blog at http://birdingportlanduk.blogspot.co.uk/

Pheasant: In last week's summary I mentioned that two cocks were seen fighting at Sandwich Bay and were so absorbed in their fight that they only broke off when a cow charged in between them. This week I had a similar experience when walking round one of the big fields at Warblington Farm. When I entered the field I immediately saw the two cocks in the centre of the field - crouched down facing each other in what appeared to be a silent and motionless attempt to outstare each other. In the five minutes or so while I was walking round the field edge neither moved - the only outcome that I could see to this dispute would be that they were very slowly separated by the growth of the Sweetcorn crop in the field around them.

Little Stint: On May 28 both a Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper were at the Farlington Marshes lake with 15 Ringed Plover and 85 Dunlin all apparently en route to the Arctic when forced down by heavy rain.

Med Gull: On May 29 an unprecedented total of 82 Med Gulls flew west over Christchurch Harbour raising the possibility that they had been driven from a breeding colony by some major disaster. So far I have seen no explanation of what caused this mass flight.

Great Black Back Gull: The pair which had nested on a raft in the Slipper Mill Pond at Emsworth hatched three young on May 24 and all three were still there on June 1.

Roller: The appearance of this superb rarity at Broxhead Common (between Alton and Haslemere) on May 25 and 26 was mentioned in last week's summary but if you want to see what this bird looks like Mark Cutts photo at http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/files/2013/05/European-Roller- 1a-Broxhead-Common-25-May-2013.jpg remains the best which I have seen.

Black Redstart: A pair were feeding fledged young at Dungeness on May 28.

Mistle Thrush: First report of fledged young comes from Arlington Reservoir (near Beachy Head) on May 31 when a single adult with a single youngster were seen.

Marsh Warbler?: A bird which was found on May 29 (and remains there on June 2) at Fort Brockhurst, where the road from Fareham into Gosport enters Gosport, has been the subject of increasingly heated debate. My only comment is that senseless violence breaks out all over Europe at this time of year and that we are not immune from it. Individuals will have different opinions based on their knowledge and experience of the two species concerned, and their personal observation of the bird concerned, and they should present factual evidence to the appropriate rarities committee charged with providing an 'official opinion' (which can never be quaranteed correct), but they should refrain from 'shouting at each other (or worse)'.

Spotted Flycatcher: To give an impression of the extraordinary wave of migrants arriving at Portland Bill on June 1 I have to quote Martin Cade's account of that day in full. He says (at http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/aa_latestnews.htm) .. "Portland was treated to a real top-notch migration spectacle today when a combination of factors including clear skies, a brisk northerly and the lateness of the spring - conspired to precipitate a quite astouding visible passage of Spotted Flycatchers at the Bill. The first observer through the Top Fields after dawn reported none until he reached the Privet Hedge, whereupon he was met by the first wave of what was to prove a five hour or so north-bound stream of flycatchers arriving a low level in off the sea from the south; the total of birds passing in close proximity to the Obs reached just over 800 and, allowing for the seemingly lower but uncensused numbers visible at times heading overhead well to the west of the Obs, it seems inconceivable that there weren't well in excess of 1000 birds through by mid-morning. With so many flycatchers about it was easy to overlook that there was another very respectable arrival of other migrants with, for example, the likes of 20 Wheatear, 15 Willow Warblers, 10 Whinchats, 6 Reed Warblers, 3 Garden Warblers, 3 Jays and singles of Whimbrel, Turtle Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail and Redstart at the Bill, along with some quality in the form of a Firecrest and a brief Serin at Southwell.

Bearded Tit: According to Bob Chapman, who saw one adult and nine newly fledged young in the reeds near the Farlington Marshes Reserve building on May 30, these have hatched at least two broods

Golden Oriole: This week brought sightings from Devon and Dorset plus one seen and heard singing at Hope Gap (near Beachy Head) on May 2

Red Backed Shrike: Although I have not seen any reports from southern counties more recent than a sighting at Portland on May 23 RBA was reporting a total of 22 in the UK on May 28 (after a peak of 26 on May 21)

Jay: These continue to circulate as if they had no homes to settle in. Since May 26 they have been seen in small numbers (max 3) at Dungeness and Portland.

INSECTS Dragonflies:

Club Tailed Dragonfly: First seen in Oxfordshire on May 25 Keeled Skimmer: A very early first sighting in Cornwall on May 18 Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva): First in Sussex on May 25 White-faced Darter: First in Shropshire on May 30 White Legged Damselfly: First in Surrey on May 25 Scarce Blue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilo): First in Cornwall on May 26 'Possibles': Still no confirmation of Bob Chapman's possible Emperor which he saw on May 22 but the premature Southern Hawker of May 15 has been re- identified as a Hairy Dragonfly which has been on the wing since May 'Regulars': Also assumed still flying this week were Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles, Emerald Damsel, Large Red Damsel, Azure Damsel, Variable Damselfly, Common Blue Damsel, Blue Tailed Damsel, Red Eyed Damsel, Hairy Dragonfly, Downy Emerald, Four Spotted Chaser, Scarce Chaser,Broad Bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer,

Butterflies: Wood White: On May 27 one was reported in Sheffield Park (home of the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex)

Small Blue: Of local interest Mark Cutts saw the first I know of found in the Paulsgrove Chalkpi on Portsdown on May 31. See his photo at http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/files/2013/06/Small-Blue- Portsdown-310513-020.jpg

Painted Lady: Three reports this week. One in the Alver Valley at Gosport on May 25, one on Kingley Vale near Chichester on May 27, and one dead on a road in Portsmouth on May 29

Glanville Fritillary: First seen on May 25 near Ventnor (IoW) with just one more sighting there on May 27.

Meadow Brown: First and only report on May 26 from a regular transect somewhere in Sussex.

All species reported this week: Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Green Hairstreak, Small Copper, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Holly Blue, Duke of Burgundy, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Pear Bordered Fritillary, Glanville Fritillary, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown, Meadow Brown, Small Heath.

Other Insects

Myathropa florea hoverfly: Bob Chapman reported the first sighting at Farlington Marshes on May 27

Cheilosia variablis: Bob also reported this hoverfly on May 27

Anthomyia pluvialis (Root-maggot fly): Bob also reported this on May 27 see http://www.insectoid.info/pictures/anthomyia-pluvialis.jpg

Hornet: First sighting for the year reported at Folkestone on May 19

Ladybirds: On June 1 Brian Fellows found both 2-Spot and Harlequin species at Brook Meadow in Emsworth - this seems a late date for the first sighting but no one else has mentioned them this year.

Red Cardinal Beetle: Also seen on Brook Meadow on June 1. A similar species, Cantharis rustica, was seen at Durlston on May 31 but that could not be confused with the all red Cardinal - I mention it as these are the very first sightings of this type of beetle for the year.

PLANTS Great Horsetail: These plants are now around a metre tall beside the 'Selangor Avenue' path along the east side of Warblington Farm at Havant

Hairy Buttercup: This looks very similar to the ubiquitous Bulbous Buttercup but on May 31 Brian Fellows dug up a plant flowering on wasteland by Emsworth rail station and saw that it had roots and not bulbs, thus proving it was Hairy.

Celery-leaved Buttercup: I had my first sight of this in flower for the year in the marshy SSSI field east of Warblington cemetery on May 30.

Common Poppy: Flowering on Portsdown on May 27.

Large Bittercress: Found flowering in the Warblington SSSI on May 30.

Hairy Rock Cress: Lots of this freshly flowering on Portsdown on May 27.

Horse Radish: First flowers seen at Broadmarsh by Langstone Harbour on May 29.

Wild Mignonette: Newly flowering on Portsdown on May 27.

Ragged Robin: Only starting to flower in the Havant area on May 30.

Bog Stitchwort: First flowers found on Warblington Farm on May 30.

Lesser Sea Spurrey: Flowers first seen at Farlington Marshes on May 27.

Bird Cherry: Flowering at Broadmarsh Coastal Park on May 29 (when it had clearly been out for some time).

Portland Spurge: Newly flowering at Durlston on May 28.

Rough Chervil: First flowers seen at Warblington Farm on May 30.

Ground Elder: Starting to flower in Havant on May 27.

Sea Milkwort: Plenty of this in flower on the Warblington SSSI on May 30.

Bittersweet Nightshade: Starting to flower at Broadmarsh on May 29.

Brooklime: My first sight of this flowering on May 29 in the Hermitage stream at Bedhampton.

Common Gromwell: First flowers on Portsdown on May 27.

Slender Thistle: Plenty of flowers open beside Harts Farm Way opposite the Havant Amenity 'Tip' site on May 29.

Salsify: This close relative of Goatsbeard was flowering at Broadmarsh on May 29.

Rough Hawkbit: First flowers on Portsdown on May 27.

Hieracium exotericum: Lots of what I assume was this flowering on Portsdown on May 27.

Black Bryony: Also first flowers in Portsdown on May 27.

Stinking Iris: Flowering at Durlston on May 27.

Common Spotted Orchid: I am not certain if this was actually flowering at Durlston on May 30 but it is not yet flowering in the Havant area.

Southern Marsh Orchid: Just one plsnt flowering at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on May 27 but no leaves could be found thie week at two other regular Havant sites (South Moors and Warblington).

OTHER WILDLIFE White Rabbit: When I visited Farlington Marshes on Jan 11 this year I was excited to see a pure white Rabbit at the north east end of the seawall path (in the trees on the landward side) and a man I met there told me that he had seen three different white Rabbits in that area. Now, on May 30, Bob Chapman has had another sighting of one (he has been aware of their presence for some time) and you can see his photo of it at http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/white-rabbit.jpg

Killer Whale (Orca): On June 1 one was photographed heading west past Selsey Bill - see the photo at http://4.bp.blogspot.com/- MajIU925SY4/UapQE_iPVzI/AAAAAAAACag/JPa9u2t36m4/s400/photo.JPG.

Masked Crab: On May 27 Alan Parker wrote on the RX website .."A bit of a treat during early morning low tides this weekend was the large number of Masked Crabs on the lower levels of the sandy beaches off Cliff End and Fairlight. I've only seen a few of these previously by catching them in a shrimp net, but there must have been a hundred on show on Saturday." As I was not aware of this species (which is common on snady shoes from Portugal to northern Sweden) I found out more from http://www.arkive.org/masked-crab/corystes-cassivelaunus/ but the only vague resemblance to the mask of a human face which is supposed to be visible on the carapace was found at http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=3074 and then only after clicking on the photo to enlarge it.

Broad clawed Porcelain Crab: Graeme Lyons continues the seashore theme with another species found when rock-pooling near Whitley in Yorkshire. I found the best image of this at http://www.fungalpunknature.co.uk/Seashore/porcelaincrab.htm and I recommend http://www.fungalpunknature.co.uk/FW1.html as a good starting point when searching for images of a wide variety of wildlife.

Squat Lobster: Another of Graeme Lyons' finds at Whitley is well illustrated at http://www.fungalpunknature.co.uk/Seashore/SquatLobster.html

Sea Fish: The Durlston Rangers Diary for May 26 says .. "At last the migration of summer fish species has begun in earnest with Black Bream, Garfish and Mackerel arriving to join the already present Ballan Wrasse, Scorpionfish, Pollock, Bull Huss, Dogfish and a Swanage Bay speciality the Undulate Ray (Swanage Bay is a breeding ground for these nationally scarce Rays)." The name which caught my eye in this list was Scorpionfish which is here being used to refer to a different species (there are some 300 species worldwide given this general name) to that which is currently in the news as a 'first for Britain' - see http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/environment/wildlife/article3762174.ece. For more information about the family to which this species belongs see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpaenidae and |http://library.thinkquest.org/12880/scorpion.html

Lepidonotus squamatus: I am not particularly interested in worms but when reading Graeme Lyons latest blog entry at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/whitley-bay- rocks.html I was intrigued by what he describes as an 'armoured worm' found while rock-pooling but all I managed to find when googling the name was an alternative photo at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lepidonotus_squamatus.jpg.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAY 27 - JUNE 2 (WEEK 22 OF 2013) Thu 30 May Warblington Farm Marsh SSSI Before describing my own outing today I must pass on news which I received from Nik Knight this evening - passing Langstone Mill Pond at 5pm he saw .. "one little egret adult standing by a nest on the island just in front of the 'duck feeding bay' and three chicks were visible. One chick was distinctly larger than the others." I assume that by the duck feeding bay he means the one on the sea wall by the 'interpretation board' rather than the south of the pond outside the Mill building. In thanking him I wrote .. "The following quote from http://www.southendrspb.co.uk/egrets.htm is the most comprehensive account of their breeding that I have found and tells us: "In the UK, Little Egrets nest among Grey herons. The nest is a typical heron nest a platform of sticks high in a tree or a bush. Even though egrets nest colonially, they do defend the immediate area around the nest. The female lays a clutch of 2-6 eggs, one a day, and starts to incubate as the first egg is laid. The chicks hatch over several days about three weeks later. The chicks start to climb on branches around the nest before they fledge at four weeks old.. They will spend a further month in their parents' care while they learn to feed themselves and perfect their flying skills." My own observations suggest that egg-laying began after Apr 25 when I counted 89 birds roosting at dusk but commented that none were sitting. Assuming that incubation began on May 1 the first chick should have hatched on May 22 and by May 30 when you saw three chicks in the same nest the eldest would have been 8 days old and likely to leave the nest around June 19 after an indefinite period of clambering around outside the nest." Coming back to my own day - - For this afternoon's outing my target was the marshy field east of the Cemetery where I hoped to catch up on several species not yet seen elsewhere, including Southern Marsh Orchid which has already started to flower at Brook Meadow in Emsworth Right at the start of my walk I found cultivated white rambler roses in flower beside the slope down into the carpark on the Billy Trail below the Havant Arts Centre and in the 'Lymbourn Triangle' wildflower garden a couple of big flowered thistles which I did not recognise had just started to flower. Nothing else new as I made my way along the path to the Pook Lane bridge over the A27 and on down old Pook Lane to the harbour where the tide was high, making it impossible to follow the shore east. Turning inland through Warblington Cemetery onto the Church Path towards Emsworth I went as far as the eastern edge of the cemetery, then climbed the wooden fence into the marshy field runnng down to the harbour which has a unique wetland flora starting with Cuckoo Flower and Ragged Robin, both of which were flowering in good numbers as soon as I got among the rushes. Also present were Brooklime and lots of Bugle with the pale green leaves of Creeping Jenny. The similar but smaller Bog Pimpernel also grows here but I did not come across it today. Nearing the reed bed inside the seawall I began to hear Reed Bunting and later I heard a snatch of Reed Warbler song but its enthusiasm was dampened by a rain shower passing over though that did not stop me finding Celery Leaved Buttercup, Wild Celery (not yet in flower), leaves of the Brookweed that will soon be prominent here and also a lot of Sea Milkwort (Glaux maritima) which was in flower as were a couple of plants of Subterranean Clover. The rain prevented me from getting out my camera but I am pretty sure it would not have stopped me from seeing at least the leaves of some Marsh Orchids if they had been present (the number of plants has been declining here dramatically since I used to expect to see around 800 here in the 1980s) One good find among the rushes on my way down to the seawall was a single big plant of Large Bittercress from which I collected one stem to photograph when I got home (leaving plenty to perpetuate this uncommon species here - the only other place I have seen it is in the 'Orchid Field' of the Langstone South Moors)

Views of the Large Bittercress stem collected from Warblington marsh Another noticeable change from the days when I toured the farm fields ten times each spring to carry out a breeding bird survey is that my route from the marsh across the stream to the eastern arable fields has become close to impassable through bramble growth and a new barbed wire fence and I might well have become permanently stuck in this fence had not a passing dog walker given me a hand to manouevre my aged body through it and out into the field beyond which is newly planted with Sweetcorn. Reaching the Conigar Point field, also newly planted with Sweetcorn, I found both a pair of Shelduck and a pair of Oystercatcher out in the centre of the field. The Shelduck may not yet be ready to start nesting but if and when they do the nest will be hidden away in a Rabbit burrow or Fox earth which I am very unlikely to spot but the Oystercatchers could well be thinking of nesting on the open ground where it will be difficult to spot a motionless sitting bird which is showing only its black back, especially as the Sweetcorn plants grow. The aggression with which both Oystercatchers drove off a pair of Crows re-inforced my feeling that they were thinking of nesting here though after the Crows had gone I watched both birds for some time but neither settled as if on a nest scrape while I was there. One other thing seen in this field was a large patch of Rough Chervil immediately east of the entrance to the field from the shore - unlike the plants seen on Portsdown on Monday at least three of these had open flowers. On my way to rejoin the Church Path I again saw a couple of birds in the long field south of that path but these were both male Pheasants which were crouched down in the middle of the field seemingly trying to outstare one another for at least the five minutes which it took me to get round the periphery of the field. My route home was up the path from Nore Barn to the Selangor Avenue junction on the A259 and the southern end of this path gave me two more interesting plants. One was the unmissable Great Horsetail plants which now stand a good metre high but before I reached them in the area where power cables cross the path and the bushes lining the path have been cut down allowing light to reach the path I found, in the much darker 'tunnel' section, more than usual of Bog Stitchwort - as I find these tiny flowered plants with their lengthy thin stems rather attractive I brought a specimen home and include photographs of it below. <="" p="" border="0" height="300" width="340"> Bog Stitchwort Wed 29 May (Link to previous day’s entry) Borage, Salsify; Crane Flies and Brown Tail caterpillars at Broadmarsh With sunshine and little wind forecast for the morning I got on my bike early and headed via Bedhampton Mill to Broadmarsh. First stop was at the overflow channel from the Bedhampton waterworks into the Hermitage Stream and here Brooklime was newly in flower though inaccessible to my camera without getting in the stream Taking the footbridge over the A27 where the Hermitage Stream flows under it I could see the roadside lined with bright yellow Rape flowers and where the bridge ended two Bird Cherry trees were laden with long white pendent racemes of white flowers now past their best. Instead of following the stream south I turned west across the long-abandoned Broadmarsh playing fields, following their northern edge to the roundabout at the end of Harts Farm Way near which I found a botanic hotspot forcing me to get my camera out to take eight of the photos below.

Borage flowers close to the Harts Farm Way/Broadmarsh roundabout This lovely clump of Borage caught my eye as I was coming down from the path around the old playing fields to the pedestrian crossing at the point where Harts Farm Way meets the roundabout. Once off my bike I realised that there were several things worth photographing here, the first being a colony of Brown Tail moth caterpillars enjoying the fresh leaves of a newly planted Oak tree on which they had set up their silk tent in which to overwinter and now to seek nightly refuge.

Brown Tail Moth caterpillars and their silk tent The grass around this area was alive with small Crane Flies and I got a picture of two that were mating and this photo allowed me to tentatively identify them as Spotted Crane Flies (Nephromata appendiculata). They will only recently have emerged from feeding on the grass roots as Leatherjackets and will soon be seen nectaring on umbellifers such as Cow Parsley. Nearby were my first open flowers of Salsify (Tragopogn porrifolius) which is a close relative of Goatsbeard but which is grown commercially as a root vegetable. Like Goatsbeard its flower closes around midday so I was lucky to see it well before noon.

A pair of mating Crane Flies and my first Salsify flower of the year. The Horseradish flowers shown below were found beside the exit road from the small carpark at Broadmarsh and this photo is the only one not taken on the Broadmarsh playing fields which is where I found the Wintercress plant shown with it.

My first view of Horseradish flowers and a good image of Wintercress which has been out for some time My final pair of photos show the geometric outline of a Swinecress plant's leaves and with it is a close-up of Common Sorrel flowers that are just starting to open

Mon 27 May (Link to previous day’s entry) Paulsgrove Peregrines and Portsdown flowers An afternoon on the Fort Southwick slopes of Portsdown in glorious Bank Holiday sunshine gave me at least nine new wildflowers for the year, several butterflies (none new), my first sight of a Cuckoo (which I have already heard) , and aerial views of three Peregrines with, thanks to a local birder, visuals of the birds both on a regular plucking place and at the nest. Before this afternoon trip I had already seen my first Ground Elder flowers and had a second more certain view of Hairy Tare flowers in Havant, while on the hill this afternoon first flowers were seen on Rough Hawkbit, Wild Mignonette, Hairy Rockcress, a Hieracium which most closely fitted the description of H. exotericum, Common Gromwell, Common Poppy, plus Quaking Grass (Briza media) and both Rough Chervil and Hogweed with flower umbels but no florets yet open (that was also true of the Ground Elder) - I was tempted to include Bladder Campion which also had unopen flowers though they had not got to the stage of showing their white colour. Another flower putting on an impressive display, though not new, was Aquilegia, presumably all multi-coloured cultivated varieties though in one place there was a solid bank of vivid blue which elsewhere might have been taken for the native Columbine (the only place where I have seen that in the past was at Coulters Dean Bank on the hills above Buriton and my memory of those flowers is that they were a paler blue than these on Portsdown). When I reached Paulsgrove Chalkpit I spoke to a man hoping to find Small Blue butterflies which I see had been found at this site on May 13 last year and which has been seen in Sussex on the Downs above Storrington since May 18. He had no luck but I did, not with butterflies but in bumping into a local man who, seeing my binoculars, assumed I was looking for the Peregrines which nest here and who was telling me where the nest was when, by chance, not one but three of these birds appeared in the sky above us and started calling to each other. The man who lives locally, walks his dog here daily and has taken an interest in the Peregrines for the past six years, pointed out that the falcon (obviously larger than the other two) had a primary feather missing from her right wing) and was pretty sure that the third bird was a youngster hatched here last year. Eventually the falcon returned to the nest and was followed there by the tiercel, giving me superb views. The climb back up the hill was enlivened by the song of a Lesser Whitethroat which flew across my path and sang from a bush just yards away though I never saw it and, after a fruitless search for the English Gentian which I last saw here on May 19 in 2011 (when 12 plants were found by others), I had just reached the hilltop road when I spotted a long, grey bird perched on a Hawthorn a little way down the hill. My impression was that it could only be a Cuckoo and this was confirmed when it 'slid' of its perch and 'rowed' its way out of sight. Just one final 'first flower' was seen within the wire fence of the Driving Test Centre - my first Common Poppies. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAY 6 - 12 (WEEK 19 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: At the start of this week I thought we were seeing the last of the Divers that have been wintering in the English Channel and this impression was borne out when I found that the only report of Red Throated to exceed a single digit count came from Slettnes in northern Norway where 184 were seen on May 7 but a closer look shows that our coastal sites are currently reporting more than they did in the winter - e.g. 9 Red Throated off Lymington on May 5 annd 8 off Selsey that day. That tendency is even more marked with Black Throated of which Beachy Head saw 6 heading east on May 5 (when Cap Gris Nez reported 51) and even more so with Great Northern of which 20 were off Otterton in south Devon on May 6 (with 10 of them seen at Selsey). Even more unexpected was the sighting of a single White Billed off Cap Gris Nez on May 5 (though a count of 113 of them at Slettnes was more fitting for the date of May 7) Grebes: One Red-necked was off Cap Gris Nez on May 5 and a single Black- necked was still at Rye Harbour on May 11 (has it got a mate?) but there were no reports of Slavonian during the week Storm Petrel: When I saw that two had been seen off Prawle Point in south Devon I though this marked the start of their appearance in British waters for the year but I see that one was picked up (alive) in a Swanage garden on Jan 22 and that three had been seen from a fishing boat off south Devon on Apr 26 Leach's Petrel: A report of one at Burnham on Crouch in Somerset on May 10 was also second, not first, for the year after one was at a lake in Bedfordshire on Feb 8.

Bittern: At least two sites still have them - one was at Rye Harbour on May 7 and two were booming in the Kent Stour valley on May 10.

Squacco Heron: Seemingly a genuine first for the year was at Lanreath in Cornwall on May 8.

Cattle Egret: One was reported flying over Sandwich Bay on May 5 and was presumably seen well but a later report from Henfield on May 7 reminded me of the time when Little Egret was newcomer to England and I was watching one through a telescope when a passer by asked what I was looking at - my reply of 'Little Egret' was greeted with scorn by this gentleman of a military disposition who said it was definitely a Great White Egret of which he had seen many when serving in India... The Henfield report read .. "I was approaching the A283/A2037 roundabout at 9.00 am today when a white bird was flying parallel to the road and to my left. Were it not for the rain and poor conditions I might have considered a Barn Owl. A few weeks ago when we were in the Algarve I mentioned to my wife how similar Barn Owl and Cattle Egret seem to be in flight. That is to say both birds white/whitish, broad wings for fairly short bodies and last but not least a wingbeat frequency that must be very similar (within 10-15% of each other). Anyway, at a point when I could reasonably look at the bird without bumping into the car in front of me it was clearly a Cattle Egret. It was only 30 or so yards away and ID was 100% certain." .. To me the statement of 100% confidence is always a reason for asking for more evidence.

Mute Swan: The Langstone Pond pair seem once again to have been the first to hatch their young on May 5 but sadly this year they only produced 3 cygnets rather than their usual brood of six or more. You can seen Peter Raby's photo of them at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x779-mute-swan- cygnets-lmp-05.05.13.jpg and you can read Peter's account of their first appearance by going to http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0- wildlife-diary.htm and using CTRL + F to search for 'Cygnets on Langstone Mill Pond' where you will find that I was wrong in my assumption (expressed in my Diary entry for May 6) that the male had not been present at the hatching to defend the cygnets against predators. In fact his being out in the harbour when I first saw the family on May 6 may have been an attempt to get his family to leave the pond (as they have done in previous years) for the greater safety of the harbour waters - family can usually be found at the mouth of the Langbrook stream where they are less eay prey for Foxes than they would be if they remained on the pond.

Greylag Goose: These are uncommon in south east Hampshire but over in north Kent five pairs were seen with a total of 25 goslings at the Oare Marshes on May 8.

Canada Goose: On May 5 a pair on Baffins Pond in Portsmouth had six goslings on show. (The first family I know of was one of 4 goslings at the Bembridge Marshes on the IoW on May 1)

Brent Goose: The latest apparent Dark-bellied migrants were a group of 8 flying east past Stokes Bay near Gosport on May 8 (when 16 flew east past Beachy Head) but I am not certain of the intentions of the group of 5 that were at the mouth of Southampton Water on May 11

Egyptian Goose: A pair at Fleet Pond in north Hampshire had 2 goslings with them on May 5.

Gadwall: On May 4 Brian Fellows passed on news that a pair had been seen flying south from the 'Ibis field' of Warblington Farm which might sound puzzling until you look at my map of the farm and see that they almost certainly came from the cress bed pond which is north of the Ibis Field (which I know as 'Field L') - see http://ralph-hollins.net/warblington.htm.

Velvet Scoter: On May 7 a flock of 15 flew past Splash Point at Seaford and on May 8 9 went past Dungeness (where 28 had been seen on May 3) making it seem that more of these birds were leaving than had been seen on our south coast in the whole winter. Totals across the channel were even higher with 127 at one Netherlands site on May 5.

Honey Buzzard: Since the first of the season was seen in Dorset on Apr 30 I have seen news of one over Folkestone on May 3 and one over Durlston on May 6. Over the Channel there have been four reports with numbers given as 2,2,8,and 13 - the last being from Belgium on May 9

Montagu's Harrier: On May 8 the RBA service gave a UK total of 3 birds already here

Osprey: Still no news from the artificial nests on the Thornham Marshes (Thorney Island) but on May 10 the SOS website carried a link to the Rutland Water Osprey site (a female Osprey which had been at Arlington reservoir last summer has recently been trying to muscle in on the nest of an established pair at Rutland) If you want to get the low down on this scandal or want general news of Ospreys go to http://www.ospreys.org.uk/a-first-time-visitor/.

Peregrine: Mobile phone users in the vicinity of Southampton University have been unable to get a signal for some three weeks because the phone mast that covers the area, and which needs repair, is on the roof of a University Building on which a pair of Peregrines are thought to be nesting and so the engineers are prevented from getting to the mast for fear of being arrested for disturbing the nest of a protected bird species. This story has now reached the national TV News and is "troubling the nation's conscience". To divert attention from this problem an alternative good news story is being 'talked up' - it seems that another pair of Peregrines, this this time based in Winchester, have become the first pair to successfully hatch young in a nest box provided for them on the roof of the Hampshire Police HQ. I'm not yet certain which party we are supposed to applaud for this success - the Peregrines for 'doing what comes naturally', the Hampshire Ornithological Society for providing the box and the publicity, or the Police for giving their permission for the box to be put up on their property - on reflection the plaudits should go to all those members of the human race who have recognized the importance of allowing the natural world to co-exist with our human world and have been prepared to co-operate to that end.

Spotted Crake: On May 9 RBA reported the first for the year had been seen "in the west Midlands"

Comon Crane: Another wanderer seen in the Pevensey Levels on May 4.

Black-winged Stilt: And another surprise was one of these in Lincolnshire on May

Stone Curlew: One by the River Frome in Dorset on May 8 was a fairly late surprise.

Dotterel: RBA gave a total of 40 in the UK on May 7 and 25 on May

Little Stint: On May 5 there were singles at Lymington and Rye Harbour but on May 10 there were two at Rye Harbour.

Temminks Stint: One at Oare Marshes in north Kent on May 8.

Curlew Sandpiper: One at Christchurch Harbour on May 7 was in partial summer plumage

Purple Sandpiper: Still 5 at Southsea Castle on May 7.

Bar-tailed Godwit: Dungeness reported 445 passing on May 6 and 365 going by on May 7.

Spotted Redshank: Still a summer plumage bird at Farlington Marshes on May 7. Wood Sandpiper: 2 at the Oare Marshes on May 7 and 1 in Devon on May 8 when there was a total of 34 in the Netherlands.

Terek Sandpiper: First of the year in the Netherlands on May 7.

Spotted Sandpiper: One appeared at Wadebridge in Cornwall on May 10.

Pomarine Skua: Selsey had one on May 5 and two on May 9 but 378 went by the west coast route on May 10 (peak count for the Channel route was 11 at Dungeness on May 7).

Arctic Skua: Highest count was 59 passing Dungeness on May 5.

Long-tailed Skua: None seen in the Channel so far this year but a count of 30 taking the west coast rout north on May 10 is worth a mention.

Great Skua (Bonxie): Highest counts this week were of 21 off Dungeness on May 4 and another 21 off Portland on May 9.

Bonaparte's Gull: One has been around the Exe estuary in Devon from May 3 to 11.

Roseate Tern: First of the year was seen on May 5, maybe just one bird but it was reported at six places from Devon to Dungeness (as two were seen passing Beachy Head it was not just one!). By May 11 more than 8 were being seen around the Exe estuary.

Common Tern: A big surge of these through the Channel on May 5 with counts of 2000 at Selsey, 2270 at Beachy Head and 12,500 'Commics' at Dungeness. On May 7 there were 20 over Ivy Lake at Chichester, two of them displaying.

Black Tern: 16 reports between May 5 and 8 starting with a count of 101 at Cap Gris Nez on May 5 but 10 at Dungeness that day was the highest count on this side of the Channel. By May 8 one had strayed from the coast to be seen at the Blashford Lakes.

White-winged Black Tern: May 7 brought a party of at least 11 of these through the Channel but all on the southern side.

Guillemot: Back on Apr 30 there were 1019 on the cliffs at Berry Head in Devon (with the comment that the expected number for that date was 1250) and by May 11 only 957 could be seen there. News of the colony at Durlston is also bad - only 286 birds were on the cliffs on May 1 and no eggs were laid until May 8 (two weeks behind normal schedule) and now Ravens are stealing the eggs as soon as they are left exposed. The one piece of good news to come out of this is that the Durlston Rangers daily dairy (which appeared to have vanished from cyber space and been replaced with a page featuring a modern art exhibition of lumps of wood plus a froth or Twitter) has re-appeared and can be read at http://www.durlston.co.uk/index.php?nid=119&id=156)

Black Guillemot: May 8 brought an unexpected sighting of one at Pentire in Cornwall.

Turtle Dove: Until this week I was beginning to think the Martin Down was the only place in Hampshire where these might still be found (two were heard there on Apr 21 and one was seen on May 1) but on May 6 one was found on Chalton Down (north of Rowlands Castle) and on May 8 one was in the Stokes Bay area near Gosport (probably just passing through)

Tawny Owl: At this time of year young Tawny Owls regularly indulge in the dangerous sport of 'Branching' which involves in trying to explore the world long before they can fly - as they scramble out along the branches of the tree holding their nest they often fall to the ground where they are at the mercy of Foxes, Dogs and other predators. On May 5 one fell from a tree near Lewes and was only just put back into Ivy on the tree trunk before dogs appeared on the scene. Hopefully the parent owls were nearby but they are unable to lift their young from the ground - they can however pose for photographs such as one taken at Beachy Head and on show at http://1.bp.blogspot.com/- 40ZsKAOSpb8/UYj9k672qMI/AAAAAAAAx6A/T5kCKKlezAA/s400/Tawny+Owls.j pg.

Short-eared Owl: Some of these are still moving north and one, presumably resting after crossing the Channel, was at Farlington Marshes on May 5.

Nightjar: These are not often seen in gardens but on May 6 four were seen in a New Forest garden near Bransgore with the remark that they were .. "Regular visitors albeit slightly earlier than last year. Usually appear nightly for week or so."

Swift: Plenty of these appear to have arrived in England but they are only being seen at the coast on arrival or at places where there is a supply of insect food such as sewage farms or ponds. The biggest count this week was of around 500 over the Blashford Lakes near Ringwood on May 11 when Petersfield Heath Lake had around 100. So far I have only seen one report of them checking out houses in which to nest and that was of just five birds seen on May 7 at Beach Road in Selsey

Bee Eater: On May 8 RBA reported a party of 8 in Norfolk.

House Martin: As with the Swifts there seem to be plenty in England but they are only being seen where insect food is available. The last four reports I have seen were of around 400 over Slapton Ley on the south Devon coast on May 8 when another 100 were over the Eastleigh sewage farm in Hampshire, then 350 over Weir Wood reservoir in east Sussex on May 10 and some 300 over the Blashford Lakes on May 11. The only place where I have heard that three or four pairs were taking nest material into artificial nest boxes on May 7 is a house by the Hermitage Stream running through Leigh Park at Havant. I still do not have House Martin on my personal year list.

Dipper: On May 8 a pair at Truro in Cornwall already had one fledgling out ot the nest.

Spotted Flycatcher: A total of just 18 bird seems to have reached southern England to date. All reports bar one were of single birds, the exception being three at Christchurch Harbour on May 11.

Red-breasted Flycatcher: One in Shetland on May 8.

Collared Flycatcher: One in Northumberland on May 8 and one in Shetland on May 10.

Marsh Tit: A three hour search of the area around Faccombe village (north of Andover) on May 5 discover four Marsh Tits but not a single Willow Tit despite use of a tape recording of Willow Tit song. As this was the only site where Willow Tit could be found in Hampshire last year the prospects of finding any left in the county this year are small.

Golden Oriole: The twelth to be seen in England this spring was a female by the banks of the River Adur not far north of Shoreham on May 10.

Red Backed Shrike: Just two reports so far this spring - three birds in the Netherlands on May 7 and 1 in Belgium on May 8.

Woodchat Shrike: These have been in Cornwall and the Scillies since Apr 20 and this week singles have been seen at Newlyn, Coverack and The Lizard (all in Cornwall).

Jay: These continue to demonstrate an unusual spring return to Europe from southern Britain - this week the focus was on Calshot on Southampton Water where 76 were seen on May 5 and 34 on May 6.

Corn Bunting: An estimated 30 birds were seen near Cissbury Ring on the Sussex Downs on May 5.

INSECTS Dragonflies: Southern Hawker: No sightings of a live insect but an empty larval skin is reported to have been found on May 7 Hairy Dragonfly: Now flying in Norfolk, Kent and East Sussex since May 3 Broad Bodied Chaser: Seen since May 5 in Hampshire. Four Spotted Chaser: First in Dorset on May 5. Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa): Out in Devon on May 5. Common Blue Damselfly: 10 seen in Devon on May Blue Tailed Damselfly: Two in Hampshire on May 6. Azure Damselfly: First in Sussex on May 6. Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum): Out in Cambridgeshire on May 6.

Butterflies: Dingy Skippe: First seen in Sussex on May 5. Grizzled Skipper: Out since Apr 28 and 24 seen on Butser Hill near Petersfield on May 5. Wood White: First of year seen near Plaistow in Sussex on May 7. Brimstone: Plenty now around - max count of 47 at Magdalen Hill Down near Winchester on May 7. Large White: Just four reports of singles this week. Small White: Small numbers being widely seen. Green Veined White: Only small numbers seen so far. Orange Tip: Plenty of these still around. Green Hairstreak: On May 6 there were 63 on Chantry Hill above Storrington near Pulborough. Small Copper: The first had been seen at Folkestone on May 1 but so far only one other report of one in Devon on May 7. Common Blue: From Hampshire on May 6. Holly Blue: Out since Apr 19 and relatively common and widespread this week. Duke of Burgundy: First was seen at Noar Hill on Apr 30 and now being seen at the expected sites in small numbers. Red Admiral: A few of last summer's insects are still on the wing. Small Tortiseshell: After a better than expected showing since they started to appear on Feb 15 these too are becoming scarcer. Peacock: This species is still bearing up well. Comma: Only four reports this week with a max count of just 2. Pearl Bordered Fritillary: So far it seems that just three individuals have been seen at three sites - one was in Parkhurst Forest on the IoW on Apr 20, there were two sightings at Abbott's Wood near Eastbourne on May 2 and 6, plus one seen in Rewell Wood mear Arundel on May 9 - hopefully there will be more! Speckled Wood: These seem to be doing fairly well at the moment. Small Heath: Sadly no further sightings since two were seen in Sussex on May 2.

Other Insects Common Pond Skater: Active in a Havant garden on May 6. Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria): First report of an adult from the Blashford Lakes on May 6 Brown Tail Moth caterpillars: On May 6 these were reported in the Henfield area of Sussex and on May 7 they were seen on Milton Common on the south west shore of Langstone Harbour Ringed China Mark moth caterpillars: Although the moths fly in the air their caterpillars feed under water on aquatic vegetation and were among the finds during a pond dipping session at the Blashford Lakes on May 9 - see a photo of one of the caterpillars at http://blashfordlakes.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/ringed-china-mark- larva.jpg?w=500&h=375. While on this subject I was interested to learn that in Hawaii a moth has evolved that is equally at home in air or water - see http://io9.com/5498714/a-moth-that-has-evolved-to-breathe-underwater-and-in- air. Crane Fly: An unspecified Crane Fly was seen in Brook Meadow at Emsworth on May 7. Hoverflies: Some new species were seen this week starting with Scaeva pyrastri at Beachy Head on May 5 - for the photo see http://3.bp.blogspot.com/- HhCJsvb2JB4/UYj9nOJbFGI/AAAAAAAAx6I/Dw-_LXDbVmQ/s400/Hoverfly.jpg. Also new was Helophilus pendulus seen at Farlington Marshes on May 7 - see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/helophilus- pendulus.jpg?w=500&h=374. Also seen at Farlington Marshes on May 7 was Eristalinus sepulchralis - see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/eristalinus- sepulchralis.jpg?w=500&h=375

Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum): This was reported in Sussex on May 4, at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on May 5 and I think this is the insect of which I found three feeding on Dandelions in Havant Thicket on May 9 Green Tiger Beetle: Now active in several woodlands in Hampshire and Sussex Cockchafer: The first was reported at the Blashford Lakes on May 8 Oil Beetle: One seen on Martin Down on May 5 Raft Spider: A small young specimen was seen at the Blashford Lakes on May 10 - see photo qnd read about the find at http://blashfordlakes.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/further-car-park-closures-and- son-of-george/

PLANTS Adder's Tongue Fern: First report from Farlington Marshes on May 4 - see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/adders- tongue.jpg?w=500&h=665 Male Fern: Some had finished their initial 'unfurling' by May 6 European Larch: A tree in Havant had acquired its green leaves by May 10 Goldilocks Buttercups: Found in Pyle Lane south of Horndean on May 6 - see http://ralph-hollins.net/Diary.htm#0605 Garden Aquilegia: Wild plants flowering in the Paulsgrove Chalk Pit on Portsdown on May 7 Wild Cabbage: A distant possible sighting of this growing on the cliff of the Paulsgrove Chalk Pit on May 7 - for more detail see http://ralph- hollins.net/Diary.htm#0705 Hedge Mustard: First 'new season' flowering in Havant on May 11 Chalk Milkwort: First flowers on Portsdown on May 7 Red Casmpion: First new flowers in Havant Cemetery on May 10 Shining Cranesbill First flowers in Havant on May 11 Common Vetch: First flowers in Havant on May 11 Rowan Tree: First flowers in Havant Cemetery on May 10 Hawthorn: First flowers out in Havant on May 10 Tormentil: One single first flower in Havant Thicket on May 9 Wild Strawberry: First flowers in Pyle Lane near Horndean on Nay 6 Sycamore: Trees in flower in Havant on May 11 Horse Chestnut: At least one tree in full flowerin Havant Park on May 10 Wood Spurge: Already in flower on May 6 Sanicle: Flowering on Portsdown on May 7 Fiddle Dock: The distintively shaped leaves found in Havant Park on May 1 Common Sorrel: First flowering in Emsworth on May 7 Yellow Archangel: Fresh flowers in Horndean on May 6 Ribwort Plantain: First flowers seen on Portsdown on May 7 Crosswort: Mass flowering from May 7 Perennial Cornflower: Flowering in my garden on May 9

OTHER WILDLIFE Fox Cubs: Proof that these have now started to emerge from their earths can be seen in a short video taken in a house and garden on Portsdown hill on or before May 5. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyGUF4Y9jyM - thanks to John Goodspeed for publicising this. Muntjac Deer: I think these small Deer are widespread and numerous in woodland throughout southern England but they are rarely seen and while their persistent barking is audible to all most people think they are hearing dogs. To hear this sound go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Reeves's_Muntjac and click the "Sounds" button (to the right of the world map showing the distribution of the species. Thanks to Tim Graham who saw a Muntjac in the Ampfield Woods near Romsey on May 3 and mentioned it in his report of Butterflies seen there on the Hants Butterfly Conservation website. Water Vole: Last week we passed on news of the first baby Water Vole of the year seen at Brook Meadow in Emsworth and this week the Brook Meadow website carried a photo of a Vole carrying food to its bankside tunnel, presumably to feed young not yet ready to emerge and find their own food - see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x778-water-vole-carry- 06.05.13.jpg Marsh Frog: The Oare Marshes reserve near Faversham in north Kent mentioned a Marsh Frog (one of their regular residents) on May 8, not because of its 'charming'? song, but because the song was thankfully terminated when the singer was speared and swallowed by a Heron. Nattterjack Toad: The following special offer appeared on the Christchurch Harbour website on May 4 saying .. "Bournemouth Borough Council are running Natterjack walks this evening (4th) and next (5th). Walks commence at 7:30pm from the Barn on Hengistbury at a cost of £3 per adult and £1 for children. Duration is around 4 miles and the finish time is approximately 10pm." .. Sorry for publishing this too late for you to attend but if you go to http://chog.org.uk/Sightings%20Photos/2013/May%202013/Natterjack_040513.jp g you can see the line running centrally down the back of this species to distinguish it from a small Common Toad. Water Snails: On May 6 Bob Chapman found some snails in a pool of water and his attention was caught by the regularity with which they came to the surface, took a deep breath, and then sank back into the depths. He later identified the species as Aplexa hypnorum - to see Bob's photo click http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/water- snails.jpg?w=500&h=375 and to keep up with all his joys and sorrows (such as finding that yobs had overnight tried to destroy a tern raft that he and his volunteers had just brought to a state in which it was just ready for its 'sea trials' next day) make http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/ one of your 'Favourites'.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAY 6 - 12 (WEEK 19 OF 2013) Sat 11 MayMy first Cuckoo and six new flowers in a chill wind I did enjoy some warm sunshine while gardening today but it was not until well after 7pm that I decided to celebrate Wigan's win in the Cup Final (plus Wiggins recovery from being knocked out of the top 20 in the Giro d'Italia (he's now back to second place) and Lewis Hamilton's front row place for tomorrow's Grand Prix) by taking a brisk walk in the chill evening air. To give myself an objective I headed for Pook Lane to see if the Shining Cranesbill had started to flower but no sooner had I crossed East Street by the Arts Centre than I found both Hedge Mustard and Common Vetch newly out in the upper carpark with Sycamore trees flowering by the Billy Line in the lower carpark. Taking the footpath leading from the Havant town centre to Warblington Church and Emsworth I had only just crossed Wade Court Road when I found Wild Garlic (Ramsons) flowering alongside the path and before reaching Pook Lane I had seen numerous plants of Shining Cranesbill displaying their tiny pink flowers. Once over the A27 I continued down Pook Lane to the Harbour where the tide was at its lowest as I walked along the shore to come back via Wade Lane where, from the trees lining the Lymbourne Stream, came the most unexpected 'song' of a Cuckoo (my first of the year and number 109 on my Year List). Finally, apparently growing from the tarmac of the footpath passing the solid wooden fence of a house in North Close (off Wade Court Road), I added Solomon's Seal to my year list of flowering plants - clearly of garden origin the flowers almost certainly co-incide with the wild ones growing in local woods. Fri 10 May (Link to previous day’s entry) Fiddle Dock Leaves and other surprises My only objective today was to stretch my legs and get some fresh air but when I got home I had six new flowering plants and two new plants in leaf on my note pad. The most colourful new flower was Red Campion, found in Havant cemetery as a result of wildflower seed sowing a couple of years ago and also seen in the cemetery was my first Rowan tree in flower. Three more trees seen for the first time were Horse Chestnut, one large tree in Havant Park in full blossom, Hawthorn, several bushes in full flower around the station carpark north of the tracks, and European Larch, not actually in flower, though I did have a look for Larch Roses, but its fresh green needles are quite colourful enough to qualify as blossom. In Juniper Square the Yellow Flowered Strawberry plants had flowers for the first time since February and at Havant Station several plants of Nipplewort had flowers for the first time this year. From the station I walked through into Havant Park and had another look for the Fiddle Dock leaves that I first spotted last year and found their distinctive 'fiddle waisted' shapes hugging the ground in the grass next to the tall Dawn Redwood tree by the Tennis Courts. Harking back to yesterday's walk in Havant Thicket I mentioned seeing "several unidentified furry bees with orange fur on the thorax and latitudinal thin bands of brown and white on the abdomen." I have been trying to name these and, while I am not certain, I think they may have been Common Carder Bees (Bombus pascuorum). Thu 9 May (Link to previous day’s entry) Lily of the Valley in Havant Thicket This afternoon's objective was to check the status of the wild Lily of the Valley colony which I think I was the first to notice in 2006 when I, with the help of John Norton, managed to persuade the Forestry Commission to take account of it in their mowing of the ride edges. Not only have they done so but they have continued the mowing regime which clears the area where the plants grow during their 'off season' but does not mow the plants when they are growing and flowering with the result that seven years later there is a very healthy colony here. As the colony is spread out along up to 200 metres of the trackside I can only demonstrate its existence and health with a couple of photos below - one proving that the plants are now beginning to flower and the other showing the density of the plants in one patch which represents perhaps one seventh of the colony. If you want to see the plants start from the Forestry vehicle entrance opposite Castle Road and follow the peripheral ride north past the first broad ride branching off to your left, continuing for at least 150 metres, then look for the charasteristic leaves of these plants along the left (west) side of the peripheral track.

Wild Lily of the Valley in Havant Thicket Despite the warm sunshine the wind was up to gale force and I did not expect to get many photos but one unexpected new flower for my year list (Tormentil) clings so tightly to the ground that it does not wobble in the wind. Also pretty unmoveable is Bugle and although this started to flower at the end of April I have not taken a photo of it until today.

My first sight of Tormentil for the year plus one of hundreds of Bugle plants now flowering Other things seen in Havant Thicket were my first Green Veined White, several unidentified furry bees with orange fur on the thorax and latitudinal thin bands of brown and white on the abdomen, and the first fully unfurled Bracken leaves. Back at home the self sown Perrenial Cornflowers had started to flower as has the self sown Grey Sedge and Spreading Yellow Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata) is holding up unopen flower buds. My last photo is of an area which I thought better of exploring today as I am sure the Marsh Pennywort flowers, which grow in the trickle of a stream running along the base of the line of Willows seen in the middle distance in front of the block of Black/Austrian Pines, will not be out for another month. This photo was taken from the southern end of the Forest ride which acts as the boundary between Havant Borough and East Hants in the Thicket, and if you are still none the wiser I was standing at SU 712103 outside a gate leading to the area called (at least at its southern end) Deerslaughter Plain, west of the Staunton Country Park Long Avenue

View of an area where Marsh Pennywort grows Tue 7 May (Link to previous day’s entry) Portsdown in the sunshine This afternoon I parked in the rough layby immediately west of Fort Southwick and made one of my favoutite circuits of the southern face of Portsdown, heading first for the east end of Portchester/Fareham Common and starting my finds with a mass of Crosswort now in flower and a large number of Brimstone Butterflies which eventually included Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Peacock and Holly Blue plus probably both Large and Small Whites. Next I headed east to the foot of the hill below the Driving Test Centre finding masses of Cowslips, a few left over Hairy Violets and a couple of young plants which had the greyish hairy look of Rough Chervil - I am not claiming that yet but I defintely came on lots of Sanicle already in flower. One of the best sights on the hillside today were the many Whitebeam trees just opening their leaves, rolling back the whiteish underside to reveal the glossy green upper side. Soon I had to struggle up the steep slope from the lower path to reach the only way into the Paulsgrove Chalkpit where, despite fruitlessly searching the cliffs for any sign of either Raven or Peregrine I did spot a Carrion Crow perched on some powerlines as if on guard duty and then watched him take off, intercept and drive off a Buzzard which had appeared over the cliff edge - maybe he and his mate have taken over the Ravens' nest? While in the base of the Chalk Pit I did add one flower to my year list with the first garden escape Aquilegia, correct a previous claim to have seen Meadow Buttercup with a correct claim, and for the second year running put in a tentative claim to have seen the Wild Cabbage which is recorded in the Hants Flora as having been found high on the cliffs by Francis Rose in 1978 - if anyone wants to see what I did walk east along the path nearest the houses until you come to a new metal seat at around SU 63806 06504 - looking straight ahead from this seat you see a slight gully running down the cliff face and in this gully, about 20 feet from the top of the cliff among some flowering Gorse bushes, I could see some paler yellow flowers which appeared to be on large Cabbage-like plants... Climbing the hill again east of the pit I made another first flower find - this time of a Milkwort of a really dark blue colour which made me record it as Chalk Milkwort, and when I eventually came out on the hilltop roadside among the buildings south of Fort Southwick I also added my first Ribwort Plantain and Rape flowers plus Red Clover and Herb Robert which have only recently started to flower. Finally, driving back down the eastern slopes of the hill into Bedhampton, I saw my first mass display of Hoary Cress in full flower. Mon 6 May (Link to previous day’s entry) In search of Goldilocks and Orchids Today's glorious sunshine saw me driving north from Rowlands Castle towards Horndean, then turning right along Pyle Lane soon after emerging from the woodland of Havant Thicket (west of the road) and The Holt (right of the road). I parked beside the lane before it curves downhill for it is the road bank of this curving section that was my first target as it supports a good variety of woodland plants and also gives access to the path running back south through The Holt to Rowlands Castle Golf Course and village. As well as its other treasures this area is an active oil field with pumps along the eastern edge of The Holt. My first objective was the colony of Goldilocks Buttercups to be found on the south side of the road at its lowest point and I was lucky to not only find several plants but to be able to spot them by the petals of their flowers - these petals are misssing from several of the flower heads in my photos, and those that are left are mostly damaged - this is typical of the species and often you can only pick out the plants by their long thin leaves which radiate in a ring from the stem to look like the spokes of a cartwheel. Despite knowing what to look for I had to resort to use of my haversack in order to pick out these plants from the surrounding vegetation in which they can easily be lost to our vision.

Typical examples of Goldilocks Buttercup at their best Next target was the colony of Early Purple Orchids to be found in the extreme north west corner of the wood, well off any official paths, and when I eventually got there I not only found a fair showing of the orchids but also Wood Spurge, Wood Anemones, Bluebells, Primroses, Ground Ivy and my first Yellow Archangel plus an almost fully 'unrolled' Male Fern. Most of the orchids had not started flowering but here are a couple of the best shots I took.

Early Purple Orchids in The Holt Returning to Pyle Lane I found my first Wood Sedge plus some Wild Strawberry flowers and had my first glimpse of the intense blue of Germander Speedwell.

Wood Sedge on the Pyle Lane roadside

Wild Strawberry and Germander Speedwell Before sunset I rode down to Langstone Pond in the hope of getting a good count of Egrets but despite waiting for 20 minutes after sunset I only saw 16 fly in to add to the estimate of 30 already there when I arrived so the overall total of 46 was far lower than my equivalent total of 89 made on Apr 25. My visit to the pond was not wasted as both Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting were singing, Swallows were flying over and. best of all. a group of ten migrant Whimbrel flew over, their tittering calls seeming to echo from the pure blue vault of the sky. On the pond the female Swan had her new brood with her - I had already heard that she had only raised three young this year rather than the usual six or seven but I have no knowledge as to why she has so few though I was surprised that her mate was out on the harbbour and not with her on the pond playing the proud father role and helping to defend the young from predators such as Foxes.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR APR 29 - MAY 5 (WEEK 18 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: The maximum count of Red-throated that I saw recorded this week was just 10 passing Folkestone on May 2. The number of Black-throated seen from English soil was equally low (just 2 off Portland and Splash Point) but Cap Gris- nez recorded 53 on Apr 28 and 90 on May 3. There were still 4 Great Northern off Selsey on May 4 (after 26 off Cornwall on Apr 28) but the week's big surprise was the presence of a flock of 33 White-billed Divers in the North Sea (albeit off northern Norway)

Grebes: One Red-necked was off Falmouth on Apr 28; one Summer Plumaged Slavonian was at Selesey Bill on Apr 29 and 3 were at Camperduin (Netherlands) on Apr 30 with one Black-necked; latest news is of one Summer Plumaged Black- necked at Rye Harbour on May 4.

Night Heron: The bird at Dartington in south Devon was seen again on Apr 28 and may still be there this week.

Cattle Egret: One still in the Kent Stour Valley on May 1

Little Egret: My own tentative estimate of up to 35 nests at Langstone Mill Pond made at dusk on Apr 30 was supported by Peter Raby's daytime estimate of up to 30 nests made on May 3 (there are always more birds present at dusk when birds that were away fishing during the day return to roost and these extra birds can reveal the possibility of more nest sites by perching near to their partners whose nests can be totally hidden from view.

Purple Heron: A sighting of a bird in flight over the A37 road in Devon on Apr 28 hints at their presence in England but the only definite report this week is of one in Belgium on May 4.

Spoonbill: At least two were in Poole Harbour this week (compared to the 16 or more that were there earlier in the year)but one of these two gives good value in an unusual photo the can be seen at http://4.bp.blogspot.com/- tUxGCYKP5bs/UYUL3kvH3iI/AAAAAAAAAhg/3_j61ZZ3ae8/s320/DSC_9046.jpg.

Mute Swan: A pair with what Brian Fellows calls a 'litter nest' in Emsworth Mill Pond (you can look down into it from the pavement on the south side of the main A259) has attracted attention this week but two other newly revealed nest sites are at the extreme west end of the Thorney Great Deeps (close to the gate in the military fence) and at the Budds Farm Pools in Havant (see my diary entry at http://ralph-hollins.net/Diary.htm#3004 which has an interesting observation the pair's behaviour which misled me as to the exact location of the nest).

Canada Goose: The inevitable annual increase in the Canada Goose population in Britain (can we get UKIP to repatriate them to Canada?) started on May 1 when a family of 4 goslings was seen on the Isle of Wight. Since then another family of six goslings has been seen at Baffins Pond in Portsmouth on May 5.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose: Just when we thought all migrants had left us two parties of 14 birds were seen heading east (passing Folkestone on May 3 and Selsey Bill on May 4)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose: Unlike the Dark-bellied birds that fly along the European coast for the majority of their passage route (and can drop off to rest and feed almost anywhere) the Pale-bellied birds have to face a much more arduous sea crossing from northern Ireland to Greenland and consequently take longer to feed up and prepare themselves, so they can usually be seen after their cousins have left. This week's news has reports of a flock of 100 or more at Exmouth on Apr 28 and of 25 at Christchurch Harbour on Apr 29 (but nothing later).

Long-tailed Duck: A report of a flock of 715 off Slettnes in northern Norway on Apr 30 was not surprising but the continued presence of one at Abbotsbury Swannery on May 3 was. Other late leavers were a Velvet Scoter off Seaton in south Devon on Apr 29 and a single Goldeneye at the Blashford Lakes in Hampshire on Apr 28

Honey Buzzard: The first news of this species in England this year came from Poole in Dorset on Apr 30 when one flew (perversely) south over the town. One going north over Folkestone on May 3 had a better sense of direction.

Black Kite: I see there have been occasional reports of these in southern England since one was in Kent on Mar 4 but the frequency of reports seems to have increased recently (along with a massive increase in reports of Red Kites everywhere - I put down the fact that I have not yet seen one from my garden to my preference for looking for wild flowers on the ground rather than raptors in the air).

Montagu's Harrier: On Apr 30 one arrived from the south at Folkestone and on May 2 there were sightings at both Folkestone and Dungeness.

Osprey: Sightings continue to pour in but there was local interest this week when the first was seen over Thorney Island on Apr 30 and May 1 and 3 (still only at the southern end, not at the Great Deeps where two man-made nests await occupants). There had been an earlier report of one over the Chidham penninsula, east of Thorney, on Apr 21 but that bird did not stop.

Red-footed Falcon: After last weeks news of one in the Scillies May 2 brought news of three all in Cambridgeshire.

Hobby: These often migrate in small flocks and this brought a group of 6 to Woolmer Pond in east Hampshire on May 1 where they stayed together, feeding on insects, at least until May 2. May 2 also brought one flying notth over Portsdown Hill.

Spotted Crake: None yet in Britain but the first of the year was in the Netherlands on May 2.

Common Crane: Two flew west over Southampton on May 3 with no news of where they came from or where they went - are they lurking in the New Forest?

Black-winged Stilt: RBA reported two at Ham Wall in Somerset on Apr 27 and they may still be there but news of 2 in the Netherlands on May 3 and 2 in Belgium on May 4 suggests that others may turn up in England.

Kentish Plover: One was seen at Ferrybridge (Weymouth) on May 2 and 3.

Dotterel: By May 4 RBA was reporting a total of ten in the UK after daily reports of birds moving north.

Grey Plover: A substantial flock of at least 40 young birds can normally be found in Langstone Harbour during each summer but it is unusual to see birds in their full summer plumage until they start to return from breeding in August so I was surprised to see that Peter Raby has found up to six birds in summer plumage during his walks from Emsworth to Langstone along the Chichester Harbour shore on Apr 28 and May 4 On the May 4 walk he also saw a 'Red' Knot.

Snipe: The first news of Snipe 'drumming' to proclaim their breeding territory comes from the New Forest on Apr 30.

Wood Sandpiper: 63 of these were at Breskens in the Netherlands on May 2 and there have now been seven reports of them in the Netherlands since the first appeared on Apr 12 but we have only had two reports in southern England with one on the Lymington shore on Apr 26 and one at the Exe estuary on Apr 28.

Pomarine Skua: These have been moving east through the Channel since Apr 14, mostly in ones and twos (peak of 8 passing Dungeness on May 1). On Apr 28 I noticed the first report from the Hebrides of the birds taking the northern route - that was of 53 birds of South Uist and was followed on Apr 29 by another report of 34 birds. For those interested in the annual Pom King competition at Selsey the latest info that I have is that of the total of 50 birds reported at south coast sites since Apr 14 just five have been seen at Selsey.

Mike Shrubb: When checking on the facts about Pom Skuas I visited the Selsey Bill blog ( http://selseybirder.blogspot.co.uk/ ) and found the May 4 entry included a photo of Mike Shrubb, one time farmer of the fields around the Ferry Pool and visitor centre at Pagham Harbour, one of the co-founders of the SOS in 1962 and author of 'Birds of Sussex' published on 1996 and other books (including one on The Lapwing). He now lives in Wales and in 2012 was given a Lifetime Achhievement Award from the Welsh Ornithological Society for his contribution to birding in Wales since leaving Sussex and moving to Wales.

Med Gull: In Brian Fellows Diary entry for May 3 (see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-wildlife-diary.htm) he includes a status report from Chris Cockburn on the Hayling Oysterbeds site in which Chris tells us that Med Gulls have now started to nest among vegetation on the curved island lying north of the 'straight' unvegetated southern island. Chris and others refer to the curved island as being 'east' of the straight island but to my way of thinking that would place the curved island where the 'bus shelter' and earth mound can be found. My view is if you draw an east west line through the gap which separates the two islands the whole of the 'curved island' is north of the line' and the whole of the straight island is south of it. Chris also says that, although no Little Terns have yet shown signs of nesting, some have been seen resting on the shingle around 'Stoke Bay' south of the Oyster Beds.

Nightjar: At the time of last week's summary there had been just two reports of Nightjar, both in Dorset, on Apr 23 and 25. This week has brought eight more reports with birds seen and heard on heathland around Alton, Basingstoke, and in the New Forest. They have also been found near Hastings and on the Isle of Wight.

Bee Eater: Reports this week from the Isle of Wight, Shropshire and Cumbria though I think none of the birds have settled at these locations.

Hoopoe: Reports this week of one at The Lizard in Cornwall and another at Newton Ferrers near Plymouth in Devon.

Wryneck: There had been reports of this species on Apr 2 in east Devon and on Apr 22 in the Scillies and now a third report comes from Norfolk on May 2.

Red-rumped Swallow: Three more sightings this week from Lodmoor near Weymouth, Dungeness and near Berry Head in south Devon.

House Martin: Back on Apr 23 I was told that one House Martin was checking out the six nest boxes on Tony Tupper's house near the Hermitage Stream in Leigh Park here in Havant and on Apr 22 a flock of 200 were over the Testwood Lakes near Southampton but so far I have not heard of any settling down to nesting.

Waxwing: A single bird was still being seen at Angmering in West Sussex on Apr 29 when another was still in Romsey. The Romsey bird was seen again on May 1 but that does seem to have been the very last bird alive in Britain.

Nightingale: I think these have now settled down at their breeding sites and that includes up to three at the Marlpit Lane site between Emsworth and Chichester where they were heard on May 2.

Fieldfare: The last which I know of was seen at Farlington Marshes on Apr 30 after a late Redwing was in the Scillies on Apr 27.

Savi's Warbler: The first and so far only bird reported in England this year was in a garden near Poole Harbour on Apr 30.

Dartford Warbler: At least some seem to be still breeding in southern England with reports of singing at Gosport and Lymington with two further reports from the Gosport area of (a) one bird having a fight with a Whitethroat and (b) another carrying food (presumably to young in a nest) also near Gosport.

Blackcap: A couple of interesting comments concerning the arrival of our summer birds and the departure of winter visitors. Blackcaps said to have been seen daily in a Sussex garden through the winter did not leave until Apr 25, long after summer vistors had been reported from many places. A comment from Portland Bill on Apr 30 says that Blackcap had become the most ringed bird there this year, overtaking Willow Warbler.

Spotted Flycatcher: After the first arrivals at Portland on Apr 26 I have only heard of one near Basingstoke on Apr 28, one at Church Norton on Apr 28 and 29, one in the New Forest om May 4 and one in Paulsgrove Chalk Pit on Portsdown on May 5.

Golden Oriole: Mixed news this week starting with a report from a trawler off the Cornish coast which found one dead at sea on Apr 28 (not sure if it was picked out of the water or died from exhaustion after landing on the boat). Better news was of one seen by several people on the Lymington shore on both Apr 28 and 29, and another in Suffolk on May 1.

Jay: Each autumn for several year I have read of Jays arriving in this country from Europe and moving west across southern England with no reports of any returning but this year, starting from Apr 5, there have been many reports seemingly indicating a strong return passage. I first became aware of this when a flock of 22 were seen in the Test Valley north of Romsey on Apr 23, then on Apr 26 one was seen flying high east over Southampton and on May 1 a flock of 36 was at the mouth of Southampton Water (at Calshot). Elsewhere a flock of 100 were on the Lincolnshire coast on Apr 30 shortly after flocks of 110 and 87 had been seen in the Netherlands (maybe having just crossed the North Sea from England?).

INSECTS

Dragonflies: Large Red Damselfly: After the first was seen on Apr 14 these have emerged all over England.

Hairy Dragonfly: Second dragonfly species to emerge with one seen in Essex on May 3.

Butterflies: Grizzled Skipper: First of year seen at Shoreham Mill Hill on Apr 27 with another seen on Butser Hill near Petersfield next day and others now reported from the Isle of Wight and the Sussex Downs

Brimstone: five more reports this week.

Large White: Six new report

Small White: Again five reports.

Green Veined White: Six reports.

Orange Tip: Seven reports.

Green Hairstreak: After an isolated early report from Titchfield Haven on Apr 11 nothing more until May 1 since when there have been sightings in Hampshire, Sussex and the Isle of Wight.

Small Copper: First of the year at Folkestone on May 1 - no others so far.

Holly Blue: Plenty now out.

Duke of Burgundy: First seen at Noar Hill north of Petersfield on Apr 30 increasing to two there on May 1.

Red Admiral: Four sightings this week.

Painted Lady: Two singles, probably migrants, at Ventnor (IoW) on Apr 27 and at Folkestone on Apr 28.

Small Tortoiseshell: Five new reports including counts of six in Portsmouth and six at Shoreham.

Large Tortoiseshell: No sighting since Apr 25.

Peacock: 8 new reports including a count of 16 on Lane End Down east of Winchester on Apr 25.

Comma: Five new reports.

Pearl Bordered Fritillary: First of the year at Abbots Wood near Eastbourne on May 2.

Speckled Wood: Now becoming fairly common.

Small Heath: First two of the year at Ashcombe Bottom on the Sussex Downs near Lewes on May

Other Insects

Vapourer Moth: Colourful home reared caterpillars hatching at Horndean near Portsmouth on May 3 - for photo see https://encrypted- tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDDQHN9MDIIxQqSOVpkUS72mTK7D hEKp_PN2pm9shw2wDUIgsx3w

Eristalinus aeneus hoverfly: Found at Farlington Marshes - larvae of this species live on rotting seaweed. For photo of female see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/eristalinus-aeneus- head.jpg?w=500.

Eristalinus aeneus hoverfly: For photo of male see http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/eristalinus- aeneus.jpg?w=500&h=374

Common Wasp: Seen in Emsworth area on May 1 - Not the first this year but presumably a queen seeking a nest site

Tawny Mining Bee (Andena fulva): First seen on Hayling Coastal Path on Apr 29

Red Mason Bees and Bee Hotels: See Barry Yates piece (illustrated by a photo of a Red Mason Bee) on the RX website at http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/5/4/bee-hotels.html and click the link for info about make a 'Bee Hotel'

Graeme Lyons latest finds: See the latest three entries on Graeme's blog (at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/ to learn more about beetles and heathland restoration (May 2 entry), invertebrates benefitting from river restoration at the SWT Woods Mill HQ (Apr 30). and, on Apr 27, Graeme's current 'all species list total (currently 4222 species) illustrated by a photo of a ferocious looking spider (female Amaurobius ferox) which he found in a Brighton street (Dick Jones' book tells me this species likes to be in dark corners of buildings and that these females grow to 16 cm long).

PLANTS Great Horsetail: The first Field Horsetail spike with a fertile cone had been seen in Emsworth on Apr 23 but it was not until May 1 that I found 50 cm tall spikes of Great Horsetail by the path going north from Nore Barn at Emsworth.

Adders Tongue: First found at Farlington Marses on May 4 by Bob Chapman - see his photo at http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/adders- tongue.jpg?w=500&h=665

Creeping Buttercup: First flowers of the new season seen in Havant on Apr 3

Bulbous Buttercup: First seen by Brian Fellows on Hayling Island on Apr 30. I saw my first on May 1 and realised that I had recorded them as Meadow Buttercups (which have not yet been reported) when I found some in bud before their sepals had become down-turned.

Greater Celandine: Brian Fellows found this unusual member of the Poppy family in flower at Emsworth on Apr 28.

Winter Cress: I had found the first plants of Intermediate or Early Winter Cress last week on Apr 27 and Brian Fellows found others in Emsworth on Apr 28 but was uncertain if they were the Early or the 'common' species. See his photo at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x786-wintercress-buds-bm- 28.04.13.jpg. Despite the early date the broad, entire (not pinnate) upper leaves look like Common Wintercress to me

Hoary Cress: This often remains in bud for a long time but I found at least one plant at Broadmarsh on Apr 30 which had two or three tiny florets already open.

Spring Beauty: Masses in flower in the Sinah Sand Dunes area of Hayling on Apr 29.

Herb Robert: The first flower of the spring season was out at Langstone on Apr 30. Red Clover: First spring flowers seen on Apr 29.

Spring Vetch: First flowers seen in the Hayling Sand Dunes on Apr 29. To get an idea of the size of these tiny plants see my diary entry for that day (http://ralph- hollins.net/Diary.htm#2904)

Barren Strawberry: The flowers of this were out beside the path leading north from Nore Barn in Emsworth on May 1

Common Nettle: First spring flowers seen on May 1.

Thrift: Just one first flower seen at Sinah Common on Hayling on Apr 29.

Germander Speedwell: First spring flowers found by Brian Fellows on May 2.

Bugle: First flowers seen by the Havant to Portsmouth cycleway on Apr 30.

Field Forget-me-not: These small plants were out in Havant on Apr 30.

Purple Gromwell: See my comments on a find made in Prinsted village on May 1 in my Diary entry at http://ralph-hollins.net/Diary.htm#0105.

Tartarian Honeysuckle: The small pink flowers of this long established bush beside the Ferry Road on south Hayling (by the exit from the 'Gun Site') were out on Apr 29.

Keel-fruited Cornsalad: Out on May 2 in both Havant and Emsworth.

Goosegrass or Cleavers:The first tiny white flowers of this very common plant were found by Brian Fellows in Emsworth on May 2.

Field Madder: Another first found by Brian Fellows on May 2.

Snake's Head Iris (Hermodactylus tuberosus): This is a common cultivated species but one that I had not previously heard of as a wild flower yet one seems to have arrived unaided at a nature reserve on Portland on Apr 30 - see http://www.ukwildflowers.com/Web_pages/hermodactylus_tuberosus_snakes_he ad_iris.htm

OTHER WILDLIFE

Common Seal: 22 were hauled out on the mud of the Emsworth Channel where it passes the southern tip of Thorney Island in Chichester Harbour. This count on Apr 30 is an increase of one on what was said to be a record count of 21 made on 12 Aug 2012, and is significantly greater than the count of 10 made there on 8 May 2012 (when there were also 3 Grey Seals present giving an overal count of 13)

Water Vole: A small individual seen at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on May 3 is thought to be the first of this years young. Reminding myself of the Water Vole's life cycle. which includes the birth of up to five litters of three to seven young between April and September each year, I found all the relevant facts at http://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/animal-facts/water-vole and also found a page devoted to them at Brook Meadow by going to http://www.brook- meadow.hampshire.org.uk/bm-water-voles.html

Wall Lizard: The first mention of these came on the Portland website on Apr 28 with a photo taken there that day which can be seen at http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/wp_wall_lizard_11_280413_500.jpg If you want to see a map showing the 50 English sites at which these creatures can be found go to http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/SARG/02000- Activities/SurveyAndMonitoring/WallLizard/PMSitePicker.asp which has all the information you might want to know about these creatures. Even if you are not interested in Wall Lizards have a look at the above website as a model of website design which I hope will be widely adopted for the presentation of verbal, photographic and cartographic data.

Slow-worm and Snail: On May 3 Brian Banks gave us an amusing item on the RX website with a photo of a White-lipped Snail resting happily on the body of a Slow-worm which was having a snooze in the sunshine, oblivious to the dinner on the outside rather than inside its body. For the photo and story see http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/5/3/snail-with-a-deathwish.html

Great Grey Slug (Limus maximus): Bob Chapman found one of these at the Swanwick Nature Reserve by the River Hamble on May 1 and you can see his photos of its topside and very distinctive underside (or foot) at http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/a-great-grey-large-red-and-very- blue-day/

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR APR 29 - MAY 5 (WEEK 18 OF 2013)

Fri 3 May

Small plants in Havant The Rue-leaved Saxifrage plants in the Pallant carpark here in Havant are now at their best so I wandered round the carpark with my camera and recorded the following. Single plants of Cornsalad (which Brian Fellows reminds me are probably Keel-fruited Cornsalad as that is much more common in south Hampshire than Common Cornsalad) were flowering at the entrance and exit of the carpark and I have chosen to show the one from the exit, where it is paired with Groundsel, first with the less satisfactory image (paired with Rue-leaved Saxifrage) from just outside the carpark entrance, second.

Keel-fruited Cornsalad in the Havant Pallant carpark Turning to the speciality of this carpark my first photo below shows a cluster of the Rue-leaved Saxifrage plants growing on the brick wall separating the public carpark from that belonging to the Bear Hotel. In this you can see the size of the plants (less than half a brick!) and see the 'three fingered' leaves as well as the small white flowers. The second photo of plants in a shaded area on the ground is more typical of what you are likely to see - just tiny specks of white requiring you to look much more closely if you want to enjoy the detailed structure of the plants.

Two views of Rue-leaved Saxifrage. Some of the plants growing on the old brick wall at the west end of the carpark have little competition for places on the very barren wall from which even the mortar between the bricks has been consumed by previous generations of the plants but the second photo, taken on the 'shoulder' of the wall of the Gazebo building on the south side of the carpark, shows that where there is more shade and where moss can find a foothold to retain some moisture a variety of plants will put up strong competition with the Saxifrage. You will see some of the Saxifrage flowers here but they are dwarfed by the Thale Cress, Bitter Cress, Ivy- leaved Toadflax and other species.

Two more views of this uncommon plant in the Pallant carpark. While I had my camera out I had a look round my own garden and captured the images below, starting with another inconspicuous flower on a Gooseberry bush. Below that is a plant of Honesty managing to produce colourful flowers on a diet extracted from the external brickwork and concrete garden path outside my back door. To the right the first Lily of the Valley is opening its flowers to remind us that there are wild colonies of this plant in both Havant Thicket and the Hollybank Woods that will soon be opening their flowers.

A single flower on a Gooseberry bush

Honesty and Lily of the Valley flowering in my garden Finally a genuine wild flower, Wavy Bittercress, also in the garden. The 'wavy' stem and the fact that the seed pods do not overtop the flowers are shown best in the left hand image while the leaves can be seen better in the right hand picture

Two views of Wavy Bittercress Wed 1 May (Link to previous day’s entry) Purple Gromwell tops my May Day list This morning was spent on chores involving a visit to my bank, sitting at my computer to renew my driving licence, and preparing my lunch. Lunch over I was on my bike heading for Thorney Island in the continuing magnificent weather, stopping off en route to visit the Bridge Road carpark in Emsworth to add Cuckoo Flower to my year list At the Little Deeps on Thorney I both heard and saw my first Sedge Warbler and at the Great Deeps I found a pair of Swans nesting on a small island close to the gate in the Military Fence (as there was no sign of a pair at the Little Deeps I suspect that the pair which has in the past nested there on a perilously tiny island has moved south to a more suitable site) Continuing east along Thornham Lane I noted the first of three examples of how our enjoyment of the natural world continues to be reduced by various factors. The first example was in the form of a brand new road sign saying 'Private Road. Residents Parking only' debarring birders (and others) from parking outside the small cluster of houses at the extreme east end of the lane (it only seems a year or so since concrete blocks were positioned to prevent vehicles going on past the houses). The second example was of a different type and reflected on the difficulties experienced by those who wish to live in the country - I can only speculate on what may have happened to the owners/tenants of the field opposite Thornham Farm in which up to last year a flock of Alpacas could be seen (I learnt from their behaviour about the use of Alpacas, in their native south America, to protect other livestock from Foxes - should a Fox appear the Alpacas 'see it off' - see http://www.theranger.co.uk/News/Alpacas-guard-the-flock-_21536.html). Whatever the reason the Alpacas were sold and moved away and today a notice has been pinned to the entrance to this field saying in bold letters "ABANDONMENT NOTICE" which meant nothing to me until I looked at http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/legal/abandonment.htm. I have no idea of what lies behind this notice but it suggests that tenancy of land in current times of financial stringency has made life difficult for some person or persons unknown. The third example came as I was leaving Prinsted and heading back to Emsworth. Heading west from what I think is called The Square in Prinsted you come to a point where the road turns north to the A259 but you can continue west along a footpath over the fields. For many years I have enjoyed a great selection of wild flowers in a small market garden plot on the north side of the start of this footpath but last year this plot seemed to have been abandoned and this year it has totally ceased any attempt at cultivation and consequently nothing of botanic interest can be seen (as a manure heap has started to grow on the land it may be that there are plans to to use the manure to restart some form of organic cultivation). Feeling very depressed by these three observations I went back to the road heading north out of Prinsted but about half way to the A259, on the east side, an overgrown steep bank up from the roadside to the hedge of a small house and garden caused me to stop and go back to look at a small patch of purple in the overgrown bank and to re-discover something that I had found here and been very excited about some years back - several plants of Purple Gromwell, a plant that I had only come across once before on the steep path up from the bus garage to the western section of the Hilsea Lines in Portsmouth. There, although the plants had almost certainly been planted in the past (and were not 'wild native plants') they get a mention in the Hants Flora under a heading saying the species is 'very rare', but when I reported my find at Prinsted to the Sussex BSBI recorder I was told that the species was available for sale to gardeners and as these were on the fringe of a garden they were of no recordable value - at the time I thought that had they been discovered by the recorder himself they might well have been given some recognition as 'garden escapes' and now, after several more years of surviving with no assistance from any gardener, I feel they are even more eligible for recognition and I am glad that the purple of the flowers was still able to shine through the grass and weeds trying to choke them. Anyway, the sight of them restored my enjoyment of plants after the three depressing encounters I have described. Another enjoyable episode came when nearly home and heading north from Nore Barn to the A259 along the eastern edge of Warblington Farm. I had come this way in the hope of adding Barren Strawberry to my year list and not only was this found but I also had my first sight of several spikes of Giant Horsetail, not yet having their fronds extended but already approaching 50cm tall, plus a show of Greater Stitchwort and more 'Lords and Ladies' 'in flower'. Finally a couple of insect sightings earlier in the day - another Orange Tip in my garden and a Queen Wasp seeking a nest site. Tue 30 Apr (Link to previous day’s entry) Broadmarsh, Budds Farm, Langstone Pond and Havant Bottle Bank The glorious sunshine this morning saw me on my bike heading for Broadmarsh. Before leaving central Havant I had added Red Clover to my year list and at Broadmarsh I found one plant of Hoary Cress with several of its tiny florets open, then at the far end of the area I found the cycleway to Portsmouth lined with the first Bugle plants that I have seen in flower. At the eastern entrance to Farlington Marshes the cluster of Danewort plants which were a new discovery last year were already showing their leaves to prove that they intend to stay there. Coming back along the cycleway I had a good view of my first Speckled Wood butterfly to add to several white butterflies seen on the way out and at Budd's Farm Pools the Swan pair revealed their new nest site after trying to bluff me - when I arrived at the view point I could see one Swan out in the middle of the central pool and the other seemingly sitting in the patch of reeds on the east side of that central pool. Although this 'sitting' bird remained motionless for a good ten minutes I was puzzled that 'she' had such a low nest (she seemed to be sitting at the water level). Luckily I stayed for long enough to see the bird which had been out in the centre of the pool swim to the reeds to be alongside the 'sitting' bird before clambering up to the top of a pile of reeds which I had not noticed, then sitting down in what was clearly the real nest with its top a good two or three feet above the water level, and to prove this was the real nest the sitter began to reach out and gather more pieces of reed to add to the nest around her. I can only assume that while she was off the nest the male bird had moved in to stand guard at the foot of the nest pile though he remained in this guard position even after she was back on the nest. Other potentially nesting birds were the four Shelduck I had seen on my last visit (only one was present when I arrived but the other three flew back in after presumably feeding somewhere in the harbour) and a pair of Canada Geese (though I only saw one feeding on the grass at the back of the pools). Several Mallard ducklings were proof of Mallard nesting but I had to assume that the small number of Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe and Coot present on the water were there to nest. No Teal, Shoveler or Pochard were seen and they had probably left though the lack of visible Moorhen did not imply the same for them. Before leaving I had a look round for flowers and found both Wall Speedwell and Dove's Foot Cranesbill, and back in Mill Lane at Langstone I found the first Herb Robert flower of the spring. At Langstone pond, despite the tide being low and the time mid-day, the trees were crowded with Egrets and I made a tentative estimate of 35 nests (this year a substantial number of birds are using the trees on the 'mainland' as well as those on the island to which last years nests were confined). Before reaching home I had one further surprise in hearing a Nuthatch 'singing' repetitivly from the tree beside Wade Court Road opposite North Close where I have heard Nuthatch in January and early April, persuading me that a pair were nesting there, but todays song suggests that there is still only one bird in the area, desperately calling for a mate... After lunch I took a bagful of 'empties' to the bottle bank in East Street and made a slightly longer outing by walking around the Bellair Road block to return via the north end of the Billy Trail, and was rewarded with two more 'firsts for the year' - one was a large female Sparrowhawk flying south overhead in its non-hunting 'flap, flap, glide mode' (bringing my Year List of birds to 106 species as this is my first Sparrowhawk sighting of the year!), the other was a male Orange Tip resting motionless on a leaf by the Billy Trail with its wings spread to show their colourful tips. Mon 29 Apr A visit to Hayling's Sinah shore Yesterday's Weekly Summary included a photo of the first Green Winged Orchid for this year flowering in an East Sussex garden and this decided me to make today's outing focus on the Green Winged orchids on the Hayling shore south of the Golf Course. Back in 2007 there were more than 1000 orchids in flower by Apr 30 and in some earlier years the peak count in May has been up to 4,000 but numbers vary greatly from year to year and my most recent visit to the site on Apr 15 found no trace of the plants. Luckily today's visit found a dozen plants though none were at a more advanced stage of flowering than the specimens I photographed and show below.

Green Winged Orchids on Hayling Sinah shore - hopefully more to come. One plant that was found in hundreds along the Ferry Road passing The Kench and throughout the sand dunes area is the Purslane species called Spring Beauty which holds up its cluster of tiny white flowers in a bowl shaped single leaf supported by a single stem. I have grouped the photo of this plant with a couple of shots of a tiny favourite of mine which is easily overlooked - this is Spring Vetch and the ruler included in the photo will show you the size of the plant to look for, usually hiding in grass on very sandy soil.

Spring Beauty, currently present in hug numbers.

Two examples of the tiny Spring Vetch Another tiny plant found in greater than usual numbers today and present in at least three sites where I have not noticed it in other years is Early Forget-me-not (the place where I always find it is on the small roundabout where you turn off the Ferry Road into the carpark alongside the harbour entrance channel). This year I found it in the sand dunes site where I go to look for Spring Vetch and where I found it today along with the other three species that I photographed (but not the orchids).

Two views of Early Forget-me-not...

... and a close up. Earlier in the outing I had found the big flock of Black-tailed Godwit still feeding in 'Texaco Bay' but otherwise found the shoreline almost birdless (though I did twice hear the evocative whistling of unseen Whimbrel). Another bird that caught my attention was Shelduck with a pair on the pond found between the entrance to the stables and the path to West Lane. Along the coastal path Common Dog Violets were more numerous than usual and where the path passed shingle on the shore Sea Kale was starting to appear but with no sign of any flowers yet. Another change to the scenery was in the West Lane fields, the major part of which were newly ploughed and presumably sown as the soil was level, not furrowed. Other notes were of the fresh pink flowers of the Tartarian Honeysuckle just starting to flower as you emerge from the Sinah 'Gun Site' area onto Ferry Road and of several Whitethroats and one Willow Warbler singing from the area around the Golf Course plus a sighting of what I think was a Skylark returning to its nest in a grassy area south of the Golf Course (reminding me of how, once in the distant past, I had almost trodden on Skylark eggs in a nest tucked under a similar tuft of grass in this area). One other new flower added to my year list was in a single flowering tuft of Thrift and one new insect was a Tawny Mining Bee.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR APR 22 - 28 (WEEK 17 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: 37 Red-throated were off Dungeness on Apr 21 and at least one was still to be seen off Selsey Bill on Apr 27. Dungeness also reported 13 Black-throated passing on Apr 23 and Selsey Bill still had 5 Great Northern on Apr 27. Further north at least 8 and probably a lot more were seen off Aberdeenshire on Apr 21 with three off Norway on Apr 24 Grebes: A raft of 7 Great Crested were still in Southampton Water on Apr 27, one Red Necked was seen from Dungeness on Apr 20 and single Slavonian were seen in Stokes Bay (Gosport) on Apr 23 and in the Kent Stour Valley lakes on Apr 24. The only report of Black-necked this week was of 5 on Bewl Water in East Sussex on Apr 26. Fulmar: These are now nesting on the cliffs east of Hastings Manx Shearwater: More than 1000 were seen from Pendeen on the north coast of Cornwall Apr 26 but the only reports from the English Channel were of singles at St Catherine's Point (IoW) on Apr 27 and Portland on Apr 24. Storm Petrel: Other than a report of one picked up alive in a Swanage garden on Jan 22 the first report for the year comes from a boat 30 miles south of the Devon Coast on Apr 26 (three of the birds were seen) Bittern: The only report this week is of one found dead with a broken bill (cauing it to starve to death) at Rye Harbour on Apr 23. See http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/4/23/sad-end.html for close up photos of the plumage, bill and claws. Night Heron: One was present on the River Dart in south Devon from Apr 24 to 26 at least but, true to its name, was only seen during the nights. This is he first that I know of in England this year. Cattle Egret: One had been in the Kent Stour Valley from Apr 22 to 25 and may have been there since Feb 14 when one was last seen in Kent. Little Egret: Last week I reported that the number night roosting at Langstone Pond here in Havant had risen to 24. This week a dusk visit to the pond on Apr 25 found a minimum of 89 birds with around a dozen nests under construction though no birds yet sitting. Reports from Titchfield Haven of daytime flocks of up to 33 Egrets suggest that they may be thinking of starting a new nesting colony which would be the sixth that I am aware of between Chichester and Titchfield. Purple Heron: These started to return to continental nest sites from Mar 31 and this week there have been two possible sightings in the Portsmouth area. On Apr 26 an experienced birder reported seeing one flying north from Portsmouth Harbour over the naval research establishment on Portsdown Hill between Fort Southwick and Fort Nelson and on the same day, around an hour before the Portsdown sighting, there was a possible sighting of what may have been the same bird in the Langstone area. Greylag Goose: Despite being numerous thoughout most of Britain Greylags are rare in the Porstmouth area (we have quite enough Canadas!) so the appearance of 1 in the Milton area of Portsmouth (south west shore of Langstone Harbour) on Apr 24, and the subsequent appearance of three at Farlington Marshes on Apr 27, was noteworthy. Brent Goose: A sighting of 50 off Folkestone on Apr 24 seems to mark the end of the departure of our winter flocks visiting from Russia. Several small groups of no more than six birds are still around and will probably stay through the summer but in Dorset and Devon Pale-bellied birds heading back to Canada are still being seen (73 were in Weymouth Bay on Apr 25 and 48 were in Devon on the same day). More interesting was a report (also on Apr 25) of 50 Dark Bellied Brent flying west off Ladram Bay near Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth. This may have been a misidentification of Pale Bellied birds or there may have been a substantial recruitment of Dark Bellied birds to the population which breeds in Greenland and Canada. Mandarin Duck: Sightings of two male birds perched on trees in Stansted Forest probably indicates that two female birds are already sitting on nests nearby - the Head Forester confirms that these duck have bred in the Forest in past years. Golden Eagle: There have been occasional sightings in recent years of what appears to be a free ranging Golden Eagle in the East Sussex countryside north west of Hastings and on Apr 24 an observer at Laugton Common (between Hailsham and Lewes) saw what he believes to have been this bird fly past no more than 10 metres from him to disappear into trees. Osprey: No reports yet of Ospreys taking an interest in the two man-made nests created for them in the Thornham Marshes on Thorney Island but there have been a few sightings in the general area. On Apr 21 one was seen over Cobnor Point (seemingly the first for Chichester Harbour this year) and on Apr 26 one was over Farlington Marshes were the first for Langstone Harbour had been seen on Apr 12. Red-footed Falcon: The first two of these summer visitors returned from Africa on Apr 25. One arrived in the Scillies, the other in the Netherlands. For a super photo of the Scillies bird see http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8543/8682253941_83138717a5_z.jpg. Corncrake: After reports of one being heard in Dorset (Crichel Lake) on Apr 14 and the 'long staying' bird at Beachy Head from Apr 15 to 18 a third bird was heard and seen at Christchurch Harbour on Apr 23. Black Winged Stilt: On Apr 26 the RBA website reported the presence of two Black-winged Stints at Newport wetlands in Gwent which I assume is a misprint for Stilt. If so this would be the first in the UK this year (though one was at the Somme estuary in France on Mar 22) Lapwing: On Apr 25 Bob Chapman found 32 Lapwing territories at Farlington Marshes but I suspect that the patrolling Foxes will ensure that the season does not end with 32 broods of fledged chicks. At least the Marshes still has breeding Lapwings in a year when, after they have vanished from the many farms on whcih they used to breed, they ceased to breed on the Gipsies Plain at Havant Thicket leaving Farlington Marshes as the one and only breeding site in the Portmouth/Havant area. Pectoral Sandpiper: The first of these for the year was at Rainham Marshes in London on Apr 25. Wood Sandpiper: The first to be seen in England this year was on the Lymington shore on Ap 26. Long Tailed Skua: An unexpected first for the year in Britain was a single bird in breeding plumage which visited Lundy Island on Apr 16. Passage migrants heading from the southern oceans to feed on Lemmings in northern Scandinavia during their breeding season normally give southern England a miss in the spring and are only seen here in the autumn. Bonaparte's Gull: Another unexpected seabird sighting was of a Bonaparte's Gull at Theale in Berkshire on Apr 26. Little Tern: The first to reurn this year was seen in the Netherland on Apr 6 with one in Dorset on Apr 8. After these first arrivals there is always a period of around two weeks when the birds are moving up Channel before they enter the Solent harbours and this year the first was seen in Chichester Harbour on Apr 21 and in Langstone Harbour on Apr 23 but none have been reported taking an interest in nest sites so far despite work to encourage them by providing more shingle on which they can nest both on the RSPB Islands and at the Oysterbeds (and raising the surface height so that the nests should be above the high spring tide levels which often wash out their nests). Wiskered Tern: Two of these were at Shapwick Heath in Somerset on Apr 22 with singles seen in the Chew Valley obApr 25 and by the Severn in Gloucestershire onApr 26. Black Tern: This week three were at Weir Wood reservoir in east Sussex onApr 25, two were on the Lymington shore on Apr 26, and six were seen from a boat 30 miles south of Devon on Apr 26. Turtle Dove: Ignoring the single bird that was wintering in north Cornwall the first to reach England was at Calshot (Southampton Water) on Apr 20 and by Apr 27 fourteen different birds have been reported in England (including two purring away on Martin Down in Hampshire. Cuckoo: This week has brought one to the Langstone/Warblington area where one or two Reed Warblers seem to be holding territories but whether that will be enough to tempt the Cuckoo(s) to stay here is anyone's guess. Long Eared Owl: Single birds on their way north from winter quarters have been seen in Pagham Harbour and at Beachy Head this week while a third bird was found dead on the road close to where cars parks at the Chichester Ivy Lake entrance. Nightjar: Just two arrivals have been reported so far. On Apr 23 one was at Combe Heath in Dorset and on Apr 25 another flew over Malvern Road in Bournemouth. Swift: After one exceptionally early bird in the Scillies on Mar 23 there has been a steady flow of arrivals since on reached Portland on Apr 9. A report of 595 at a Netherlands site on Apr 20 was exceptional but it seems that higher than usual numbers are in this country before April is out - the questions are will they find enough insects to eat and will they find enough nest sites to breed? Pallid Swift: Four reports from the Scillies between Apr 19 and 24 (probably just one bird). Hoopoe: Four reports this week, probably of four different birds in the Scillies, Isle of Wight (Totland), Cornwall (Lizard), and Swanage in Dorset. Wryneck: The first was in the Scillies on Apr 22 and the only other report so far is of two birds in Belgium on Apr 26. Swallow: After a report of 120 at Eastleigh sewage farm last week there have been seven reports of 100+ birds this week including 600 at Lodmoor in Dorset and 1033 at Weston-super-mare in Somerset. House Martin: A report of 200 over the Testwood Lakes near Southampton on Apr 22 was encouraging. Yellow Wagtail: A good number of reports but mostly of very small numbers (highest count was of 33 at Christchurch Harbour on Apr 24). Locally they have been heard going north over Warblington Farm on three days and at the Langstone South Moors and up to 6 have been on Farlington Marshes. Waxwing: Still one bird in Romsey on Apr 26 where there had been 9 on the previous day. 7 in Seaford on Apr 26 may have come from Romsey but I am not sure where a flock of 10 in Hove (Brighton) on Apr 22 came from. Fieldfare: None reported since Apr 23 and no Redwings since Apr 18. Western Bonelli's Warbler: One created a lot of interest at Church Norton in Pagham Harbour on Apr 22 and 23 and I was specially pleased to see that the finder was Ted Raynor who, with his wife Penny, 'recruited' me as a HOS walks leader in the early 1980s. Spotted Flycatcher: The first to reach England this year was at Portland on Apr 28 and one was in Hampshire near Basingstoke on Apr 28. Of the regular summer visitors the only species that have not yet reached us are Quail, Honey Buzzard, and Roseate Tern. Willow Tit: This species is very close to extinction in Hampshire though it is just hanging on in the very north of the county so a report of one .."singing right above my head" in Mark Ash Wood (New Forest) was a real surprise. I would not be surprised if the Marsh Tit follows it into oblivion before many years have passed (so far this year I have seen only 12 reports of the species in Hampshire). Golden Oriole: One was reported in Dorset as early as Mar 19 and one on the Lymington shore on Apr 27 and 28 is the eighth that I know of this year (and the only one found in Hampshire though there was one at Birdham (just across the Sussex boundary) on Apr 16. Great Grey Shrike: The two birds at Bishops Dyke in the New Forest and Wyke Down in Dorset were both seen on Apr 23 but not since. Woodchat Shrike: The bird which turned up in Conwall on Apr 20 has now been joined by four others at four different UK sites. A very good photo of one in the Scillies on Apr 21 can be seen at http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8678079392_142e36c230_z.jpg INSECTS (Skip to Plants) Dragonflies: Large Red Damselfly: Two more reports of this species after the three seen last week Butterflies: Species reported this week: Brimstone: Still flourisihing this week Large White: Four new reports this week. Small White: Three new reports this week. Green Veined White: New this week with the first seen on Apr 20 with reports from seven sites during the week. Orange Tip: Ten new sightings this week from sites which include Stansted Forest. Holly Blue: Six new sightings this week. Red Admiral: Apr 20 was the date on which the first hand-reared lavae emerged at Newhaven. Painted Lady: Just one report of a presumed migrant from the coast at Seaford on Apr 20 - this was the tenth report for the year. Small Tortoiseshell: For the possibility that several coastal clusters (including an extraordinay find of 194 at Ferring near Worthing on Apr 22 were in fact the result of migration from the continent see my diary entry at http://ralph- hollins.net/Diary.htm#2604. Large Tortoiseshell: See my summary for last week which suggests that sightings on the Isle of Wight were on locally reared insects and not of migrants. This week Neil Hulme from Sussex found two male at the Isle of Wight site but did not express any comment on their 'immobility' (I feel that a migrant that had crossed the Channel would wish to fly on further). Peacock: Five new sightings this week including 9 together on Stockbridge Down. Comma: Just three more reports this week. Pearl Bordered Fritillary: The only new species this week with a report of one seen in Parkhurst Forest on the Isle of Wight on Apr 20. Speckled Wood: Three new reports this week. (Skip to Other Insects) Moths: Selected sightings this week: In addition to the fuller list of moth sightings given below here are what I think to be the more significant reports ('firsts' for the year, appearance of a new generation, migrant influxes, rarities etc) 290 (Maple Slender), Caloptilia semifascia: out in Kent on Apr 26 435 (Brown Ash Ermel), Zelleria hepariella: out in Kent on Apr 25 464 Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella: out in Kent on Apr 25 483 (Garden Lance-wing), Epermenia chaerophyllella: out in Dorset on Apr 23 667 (Dawn Flat-body), Semioscopis steinkellneriana: out in Dorset on Apr 22 892 (Garden Cosmet), Mompha subbistrigella: out in Dorset on Apr 23 998 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana: out in Dorset on Apr 22 1288 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla: out in Kent on Apr 22 1633 Small Eggar Eriogaster lanestris: out in Dorset on Apr 23 1881 Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata: out in Dorset on Apr 21 1888 Scorched Carpet Ligdia adustata: out in Kent on Apr 25 1927 Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria: out in Kent on Apr 19 2154 Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae: out in Kent on Apr 26 2425 Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli: out in Kent on Apr 25 Note - I assume that readers are as ignorant of moths as I am and so I attempt to provide background info about each species through links to sources of expert knowledge. For each species two links are given and a third source is available. The first is to the UKMoths entry for that species giving one or more photos (if more than one thumbnail is shown clicking it will cause it to replace the large image) plus background info at the national level. The second is to the HantsMoths entry giving similar information at the Hampshire county level - clicking the Phenology, etc boxes gives charts relating to records in the Hampshire database and the meaning of the colours in the Flightime Guide can be found at http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/flying_tonight.php Now that a Sussex Moths site is available you can also see the Sussex status of a species by doing the following 1. Open a new TAB alongside the one you are using 2. Copy the http://www.sussexmothgroup.org.uk/ URL into the new TAB address bar and press ENTER to open the Sussex Moth site 3. When you come to a species in my list below for which you want to check the Sussex status 4 Refer to the second line of my entry for the species (the link to the Hantsmoths site) and obtain the moth number (preceding the '.php') from it taking care to ignore any leading zeroes but to include any terminal letter suffiix (e.g. from .../0366a.php you get a moth number 366a ) 5. Now switch to the Sussex Moths tab 6. Click on the box saying "Name or B&F?" under the Species Search heading on the left side of the page 7. Enter the Moth Number (properly known as the B&F or Bradley and Fletcher number) in this box, then press ENTER - this will bring up the data for the species in the right hand side of the page Species recorded this week: 0290 (Maple Slender), Caloptilia semifascia found in Kent on APR 26 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2976 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0290.php 0435 (Brown Ash Ermel), Zelleria hepariella found in Kent on APR 25 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3362 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0435.php 0464 Diamond-back Moth Plutella xylostella found in Kent on APR 25 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=5084 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0464.php 0483 (Garden Lance-wing), Epermenia chaerophyllella found in Dorset on APR 23 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1931 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0483.php 0663 (March Tubic), Diurnea fagella found in Kent on APR 25 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=663 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0663.php 0667 (Dawn Flat-body), Semioscopis steinkellneriana found in Dorset on APR 22 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=6185 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0667.php 0670 (Dingy Flat-body), Depressaria daucella found in Kent on APR 22 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1863 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0670.php 0692 (Ruddy Flat-body), Agonopterix subpropinquella found in Kent on APR 17 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2483 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0692.php 0892 (Garden Cosmet), Mompha subbistrigella found in Dorset on APR 23 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2753 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0892.php 0998 Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana found in Dorset on APR 22 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=4388 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/0998.php 1288 Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla found in Kent on APR 22 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=360 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1288.php 1342 (Narrow-winged Grey), Eudonia angustea found in Kent on APR 26 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=5073 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1342.php 1633 Small Eggar Eriogaster lanestris found in Dorset on APR 23 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2646 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1633.php 1661 Orange Underwing Archiearis parthenias found in on APR 20 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=871 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1661.php 1746 Shoulder-stripe Anticlea badiata found in Dorset on APR 21 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=5631 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1746.php 1750 Water Carpet Lampropteryx suffumata found in Dorset on APR 21 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=4814 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1750.php 1852 Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata found in Hampshire on APR 24 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=698 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1852.php 1862 Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata found in Kent on APR 15 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=123 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1862.php 1881 Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata found in Dorset on APR 21 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=4768 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1881.php 1888 Scorched Carpet Ligdia adustata found in Kent on APR 25 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2221 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1888.php 1917 Early Thorn Selenia dentaria found in Hampshire on APR 24 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3537 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1917.php 1927 Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria found in Kent on APR 19 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1742 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1927.php 1930 Oak Beauty Biston strataria found in Kent on APR 16 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2639 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1930.php 1934 Dotted Border Agriopis marginaria found in Dorset on APR 21 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3940 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1934.php 1947 The Engrailed Ectropis bistortata found in Kent on APR 25 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=6352 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1947.php 2154 Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae found in Kent on APR 26 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=82 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2154.php 2182 Small Quaker Orthosia cruda found in Dorset on APR 20 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=347 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2182.php 2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi found in Dorset on APR 20 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3947 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2187.php 2188 Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta found in Kent on APR 13 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1979 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2188.php 2189 Twin-spotted Quaker Orthosia munda found in Kent on APR 16 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1940 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2189.php 2190 Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica found in Dorset on APR 20 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2001 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2190.php 2236 Pale Pinion Lithophane hepatica found in Kent on APR 16 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2448 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2236.php 2243 Early Grey Xylocampa areola found in Kent on APR 16 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=6184 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2243.php 2425 Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli found in Kent on APR 25 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=334 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2425.php 2469 The Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix found in Hampshire on APR 24 - see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=5101 For the HantsMoths info go to http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2469.php Other Insects Bee Fly (Bombylius major): Seen in Emsworth on Apr 22 and also in my Havant Garden this week. Dotted Bee Fly (Bombylius discolor): Seen in Walter Copse (IoW) on Apr 20. Cheilosia grossa Hoverfly: First seen at Rye Harbour on Apr 27. Helophilus pendulus Hoverfly: First seen at Rye Harbour on Apr 27. Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum): Probable Queen seen in Hollybank Woods at Emsworth on Apr 21. Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris): Several seen at Rye Harbour on Apr 27. Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius): Several seen at Rye Harbour on Apr 27. Bug species: An interesting list of the various bug species seen over the years by Graeme Lyons can be found at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/first-record-of- rare-shield-bug-for.html PLANTS (Skip to Other Wildlife) Field Horsetail: The first fertile cone was seen at Emsworth on Apr 23. Male Fern: The fronds were starting to unfurl in the Hollybank Woods at Emsworth on Apr 22. Early Winter Cress (Barbarea intermedia): First two flowering plants in Havant on Apr 27. Wavy Bitter Cress: Newly flowering in Havant on Apr 22. Cuckoo Flower: Newly flowering in Emsworth on Apr 21. Garlic Mustard: First flowers seen on Portsdown on Apr 24. Honesty: After one plant started to flower in my garden on Apr 19 I have seen several self sown plants flowering this week. Rue Leaved Saxifrage: Plants in the Havant Pallant carpark were flowering last week and one came out in my garden driveway this week. Red Currant: The first 'wild' plant was flowering in the Hollybank Woods on Apr 22. Flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum): Flowering in several places by Apr 27. Hornbeam: Catkins open on Apr 27. Norway Maple: First flowers seen on Apr 24. Ash tree: First flowers seen in Emsworth on Apr 20. Thyme-leaved Speedwell: First spring flower out in my garden on Apr 27. Field Forget-me-not: First flowers seen in Havant on Apr 27. Early Forget-me-not: This has been flowering on Hayling Island for about ten days but anyone wanting to see some good photos of the flowers now out at Rye Harbour should go to http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/4/27/blooming- tiny.html. Crosswort: Just one plant was in full flower on Portsdown on Apr 24. Oxford Ragwort: This is usually in flower much earlier but this year I did not see its flowers untilApr 27. Smooth Sowthistle: First flower seen in Havant onApr 27. Lords and Ladies (Arum): First unsheathed spathe seen in Havant on Apr 27. Early Purple Orchid: Just one spike showing flower buds found in the Hollybank Woods on Apr 22. Green Winged Orchid: These had started to flower in the Northiam area of East Sussex (north of Hastings) by Apr 27 - see photo at http://www.rxwildlife.info/storage/Green- winged%20orchid.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1367068289533. OTHER WILDLIFE (Skip to Endweek) White-beaked Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris): These are uncommon in the English Channel and the first report of them that I have seen this year comes from Graeme Lyons who saw a small group of them on Apr 21 as he was crossing the Channel on a ferry from Newhaven with a party of Marine Life enthusiasts. Pipistrelle bat: One was seen flying by day near Burgess Hill in West Sussex on Apr 21. The observer expresses the opinion the day flying is the result of not being able to find suffient night flying insects to meet the bat's needs for food. Newts: Bob Chapman was at the HWT nature reserve at Swanwick (near the Hamble river) on Apr 26 setting bottle traps in the lake to catch Great Crested Newts in order to record the pattern of markings on the belly of each Newt. All three Newt species are present in this pond but it is only the Great Crested which have a unique pattern of markings on theif bellies - when these patterns have been recorded it will be possible to discover the population of this species, the age of individuals and various studies of individual behaviour can be made. Grass Snake: The first report of a Grass Snake for the year came from Durlston on Apr 21. Since then there has been a change of policy at Durlston and the Rangers Daily Diary has been dropped from their website. In its place ad hoc news items will be posted on Twitter, Facebook and other 'social media' to which I currently have no access so I will miss wildlife news from this site. Sea Slater (Ligia oceanica): If you are not familiar with this 3cm long sea shore version of a Wood Louse have a look at http://www.arkive.org/sea-slater/ligia- oceanica/. The reason for its being in the news is that Bob Chapman found on on top of the seawall at Farlington Marshes on Apr 20 which was unusual as, while I think the species is quite common it does not usually come out of the water. I have only seen these creatures once on the banks of Fareham Creek and I think the emergence there was attributed to a population explosion causing a large number to come out of the water in order to move away from an area which had become over-crowded with the species. Grey Mullet: The first shoal of these fish for this year was seen by Brian Fellows in the Slipper Mill Pond at Emsworth on Apr 23. Sea Mouse (Aphrodite aculeata): The following entry for Apr 23 on the RX website attracted interest in this species - see http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/4/23/aphrodite.html. Also see http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%22Sea_mouse%22_(Aphrodita_aculeata )_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1735554.jpg

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR APR 22 - 28 (WEEK 17 OF 2013)

(Skip to previous week)

Sun 28 Apr

(Link to previous day’s entry) Summary of past week’s news My latest weekly summary of reports is now available by clicking Weekly Summary here

Sat 27 Apr

(Link to previous day’s entry)

New flowers in Havant A walk around the Havant Cemetery, New Lane and Denvilles area of Havant this morning gave me 44 flowering plant species of which 8 were my firsts of the year. Starting with these firsts I found a single plant of Thyme-leaved Speedwell on my front lawn and a single exposed spathe of 'Lords and Ladies' in the back garden. Near the New Lane level crossing Oxford Ragwort was at last in flower and in the Cemetery I saw the first Sweet Vernal Grass and the first leaves open the Lime Trees - I also found a large new patch of Slender Speedwell, a species that seems to be flourishing in many new sites this year. I then walked up New Lane and turned right into Stanbridge Road where two plants of Early (Intermediate) Winter Cress were showing yellow flower buds above their pinnate leaves and, along the dry and dusty edges of the path leading to the footbridge over the railway, many small plants of Field Forget-me-not had flowers. Coming down the bridge on the Denvilles side I passed my first flowering Ash Tree and then found a big bush of Flowering Currant on the railway 'wayside' (this has been flowering elsewhere for about a week but I don't seem to have recorded it). My route home was via Southleigh Road and Fourth Avenue and along this section I came on a massive display of Spotted Medick flowers (not strictly my first but the first large and obvious display), a couple of flowers on a single Storksbill plant and a single flower on a Smooth Sow-thistle. Also seen were a good number of Sticky Mouse-ear plants in bud, several Norway Maples all now in flower, and catkins opening on a Hornbeam tree. Nothing special in the way of birds but from the railway footbridge I could see that the Herring Gulls and two pairs of Great Blackback were still at their nests on the roof of what I think is the Havant Ambulance Station in Downley Road. Fri 26 Apr (Link to previous day’s entry) Butterfly news Going through the latest butterfly reports from Hampshire and Sussex I was excited to see that several new species are now on the wing and especially surprised to see that there seems to have been a major invasion of Small Tortoiseshells from the continent which is the more surprising as I had never heard of the species as being a migrant though when I turned to Jeremy Thomas's RSNC Guide to Butterflies I found that he says .."This is a mobile butterfly that does not live in identifiable colonies but flies freely across the countryside and even out to sea, occasionally reaching France" My attention was drawn to a possible invasion when, on Apr 20, there was a report from Splash Point at Seaford of Small Tortoiseshells coming in off the sea. Then on Apr 22 Neil Hulme (chairman of Sussex branch of Butterfly Conservation) went to the Ferring area (on the coast near Worthing) and counted 194 Tortoiseshells in a 2.5 hr search (the most he has ever found in one area). Looking at other sightings the highest count I saw reported was just 12 of these butterflies at Piddinghoe near Newhaven but it was clear that there were more than usual all along the coast (and I think it was this that sent Neil Hulme off to look into the matter, choosing Ferring as a known good site for them). Although there is no evidence for other migrant species arriving in strength I see that Neil Hulme also visited the Isle of Wight to see the Large Tortoiseshell in Walters Copse at Newtown and that he found two males there on Apr 20 but did not express any of doubts about them being genuine migrants which I did in my latest Weekly Summary (Week 16) so perhaps these are also recently arrived migrants as was one Painted Lady that turned up at Seaford on Apr 20 (other than two Painted Ladies seen in the Scillies on Mar 30 this seems to have been the first arrival in England this year). There have also been a couple of Hummingbird Hawkmoth sightings (both in coastal Sussex one Apr 2 and 17) and a few other migrant moths such as the Dark Sword-Grass found at Portland on Apr 15. Turning away from migrants there has also been news of several regular species suddenly appearing. Two which really mark the arrival of spring for me are the Orange Tip and the Holly Blue. The first Orange Tip that I know of was a female (usually the males of any species appear before the females) seen by Richard Hallett in Denmead on Apr 14 to be followed by one near Eastleigh on Apr 16, another in Waterlooville on Apr 19 and then an outburst of them from Apr 20. The first Holly Blue was seen in Sussex on Apr 19 and the second near Fareham on Apr 20 with five widespread reports on Apr 23. Green Veined Whites were seen at four sites in Hants, Sussex, and the Isle of Wight on Apr 20 (Small and Large Whites were also flying by then) and on Apr 20 the first and so far only Pearl Bordered Fritillary was seen in Parkhurst Forest on the Isle of Wight Before being too encouraged by the above news we should remember the absence of several other species. One that no one has seen so far is the Grizzled Skipper which first appeared last year on Mar 24 and of which I had picked up 25 reports by Apr 26 (I do not record every report that I see!). The other, with only four reports so far, is the Speckled Wood which was out in mid-February last year and for which I had seen at least 27 reports by Apr 26. Last year Dingy Skippers were also out from Apr 6, Green Hairstreaks from Mar 29 and Small Coppers from Mar 21 and there were 8 reports of Duke of Burgundy between Apr 13 and Apr 24 (none of these have been seen on the south coast so far this year) Thu 25 Apr (Link to previous day’s entry) 89 Egrets come to roost at Langstone pond I was at home today and spent some of the time in the garden where I saw a white butterfly (probably a Small White) and a Bee Fly plus a number of other unidentified flying insects plus a plant of Wavy Bittercress which has just started to flower and the first tiny plant of Rue-leaved Saxifrage flowering in my driveway, not to mention the many Spanish Bluebells which are now starting to flower. I also had a close look at the violet which has recently appeared in the lawn and found it was a Common (not Early) Dog Violet and thus an addition to the garden flower list. With a fairly low tide and excellent quiet, sunny weather I cycled down to the shore to check on Egret numbers around sunset but I first went down the Billy Trail to the top end of the old rail bridge from where I could see there were still 6 Brent (probably now summering birds) plus a large flock of Black-tailed Godwit and , across the water, a couple of cranes apparently at the Oysterbeds, presumably adding shingle to the Tern nest islands - I see that the first three Little Terns were inside Langstone Harbour yesterday. I reached Langstone Pond around 19:30 (sunset at 20:15) and did my best to count the Egrets already in the trees (quite a few of them now on obvious nests though not sitting) - this count came to 58 which I am pretty sure was an under- count. I then moved to the bench close to the start of Wade Lane from which you can see the whole area of sky above the pond and started to count the birds definitely arriving from a distance and dropping down to the roost trees (ignoring the many birds making short tree to tree flights as they jockeyed for good positions to spend the night). By the time of sunset my total count was 89 birds but as it was still light when I left I am pretty sure that several more were still to arrive. Other birds seen while making the count were 10 Shelduck out on the mud, around two dozen Swallows flying over, a Reed Warbler heard singing from the reeds around the pond, and one Buzzard gliding behind the trees lining the Lymbourne stream which supplies the pond with water. Wed 24 Apr (Link to previous day’s entry) Flowers on Portsdown Hill near Fort Widley I did not arrive at Fort Widley until 4pm on a dull afternoon with a fresh breeze making the hilltop distinctly chilly but I was determined to add at least Hairy Violets to my year list so I set off downhill towards the QA Hospital and soon found the violets scattered among the grass (strangely there were hardly any leaves with the flowers). I also found many bright yellow tufts of pollen on Glaucous Sedge but the only other unexpected find here was a Common Lizard trying to warm itself on a small log pile. Crossing Southhwick Hill Road I continued west along the unused tarmac road which was was presumably built as an eastward continuation of Mabelthorpe Road and when I reached the barrier marking the end of that road I found my third new flower for the year list - several plants of Garlic Mustard in flower. From here I turned north onto the steep slope of Portsdown, following a line between Wymering Chalk Pit on my left and the Southwick Hill Road on my right until I was a little west of the hilltop roundabout. Somewhere here I had my first sight of a flower bud on Salad Burnet but there was little else to see on the down so I decided to cross James Callaghan Drive to have a look at the good work done by Richard Jones to cultivate wildlife in the 'Top Field' west of the Hilltop Roundabout carpark. This field now has fencing round the several sections into which it is divided (presumably to allow safe grazing of separate areas) and I had wondered if human access would be restricted but I found gates giving access to all compartments. Although the development of the land is still at an early stage it was encouraging to see a mass of cowslips with a Skylark singing high above them despite the cloud cover - this large central area looks as if it will be developed as natural chalk grassland while the section along the road running down to Southwick has been lightly ploughed and should produce a good selection of arable weeds (including the Venus' Looking-glass which was seen here last year). While in this area but back on 'old Portsdown' I also made another unexpected addition to my year list with a plant of Crosswort already in flower and while driving home I passed the bright yellow of the first Norway Maple that I have seen in flower. Back in my own garden a self sown plant of Honesty is now in full flower and another self-sown plant that I only discovered this morning is Early Dog-violet coming up in the grass of the lawn far from the long-established cluster of plants on the garden path. Both morning and evening a Song Thrush is singing at full volume Mon 22 Apr (Link to previous day’s entry) Glorious weather for a natural funeral Sadly today was the occasion of the funeral and burial of my neighbour's wife so I had no time for a lenthy outing but nevertheless I enjoyed the sight of a Comma in my own garden before setting out for the church, and had two personal 'firsts for the year' in my neighbour's garden during the subsequent reception - one was a Small White flying through, the second was my first Bee-fly. While in the garden I also saw at least half a dozen Common Newts in the garden pond. Mon 22 Apr (Link to previous day’s entry) Longcopse Hill area of the Hollybank Woods Last year some 80 Early Purple Orchids were in flower at this site by April 24 so I thought I would see how they and the other wildflowers that flourish in the extreme south east corner of the Hollybank Woods complex were getting on. I started from the Hollybank Lane entrance to the woods and headed east keeping to the southern edge of the woods where I saw the very limited show of Bluebells and unopen Wild Cherry flowers that Brian Fellows had found there yesterday but at the end of this section I was greatly cheered to hear my first full throated Blackcap song, having already heard Nuthatch, Blackbird and Chiff Chaff song as well as having a close view of a Jay. Reaching the county boundary stream via the path along the edge of the pony field I was pleased to have no difficulty in crossing it at this point - it would seem that the mass of earth and other material washed down by recent excessive rain has been trapped here by a narrowing of the water channel and has then been compacted into a solid bridge strong enough to walk over with the stream water now running in a tunnel below this bridge - on the way back I used the route along the southern edge of the conifer block and here too crossing has been made easier by placing two broad sections of tree trunks side by side to form a rigid bridge over the stream (though for the elderly and infirm such as myself a handrail would be a helpful addition!). Reaching the point near my destination where the Monks Farm fields come in sight I found three Fallow Deer which allowed me to get fairly close before they bolted, and near where they had been a patch of Solomon's Seal plants were standing tall and will soon be opening flowers (last year I found my first in flower elsewhere on May 5). From here I crossed the minor stream which divides the bare woodland floor from the damper area that is densely crowded with Wood Anemones, Primroses, Celandines and Dog Violets plus the less colourful Dogs Mercury and Ivy Leaved Speedwell and the occasional unfurling Male Fern. At the southern edge of the Monks Farm field, where a substantial finger of damp woodland opens up along the southern boundary of the field, I immediately began to find the leaves of many Early Purple orchids, at least one of them already showing a flower head of whitish unopen buds. This suggested a better than average showing of orchids in flower in the near future, but as I walked east into the woodland finger there was soon a total absence of orchids (maybe the bulbs in much of this low lying ground have been set back by long immersion in water?). What was still flowering here was a fair number of pure white Common Dog Violet flowers (the number found here varies from year to year) but what I could not find at all was the small clump of Alpine Squills (though these have a very short flowering period and are usually all over by the end of March) Back at the main cross-roads of the wood, where the east west path meets the Hollybank Lane continuation through the wood, the local Buzzard pair flew over, calling to each other and seeming to land in the rubbish tip area. Having stopped to watch them I noticed that at least one of the Red Currant bushes by the big log seat here was already in flower (a first for me) before I headed on past the Holly Lodge area to have a look at the Lily of the valley plants in their new wooden protective cage which Brian Fellows had photographed during yesterday's walk. I noticed that these plants (which were, I think, only discovered last year) are on the same poor sandy/gravel heathland soil as the larger colony in Havant Thicket and I think this is their preferred habitat. Turning back towards the Holly Lodge area, not expecting anything more of special interest, I was stopped in my tracks by what I am almost sure was Garden Warbler song - lower pitched and much faster/more 'gabbled' than that of a Blackcap - coming from the thick scrub fringe of young trees along the west side of the Holly Lodge garden area (also an indicator of Garden Warbler as this is the habitat that I have found them in at Stansted in the past). The bird continued singing intermittently for several minutes, moving unseen along the length of the garden but never allowing me a glimpse to prove its identity! My final note for this outing came as I was heading back down Hollybank Lane past the current demolition site. Here I found newly flowering Wavy Bittercress (proven by the presence of six stamens in each flower) and back in Havant later in the day I found another plant of it at the foot of the old wall behind the Robin Hood pub, proving that the species can flourish in town as well as in wet woodland rides. Also seen in Havant during that brief walk were the first flowers on the Water Crowfoot growing in the pool fed by the Parchment spring

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR APR 15 - 21 (WEEK 16 OF 2013) BIRDS (Skip to Insects) Divers: No substantial numbers in the south this week though a couple of Red- throated were seen passing St Catherine's Point (IoW) on Apr 20 and 27 Black- throated were off the French Normandie coast on Apr 18 with just one Great Northern. Grebes: One Red-necked was off Hill Head (Titchfield Haven) on Apr 20 and two Slavonian were off the Netherlands during the week with one Black-necked at Sandwich Bay on Apr 19. From north Devon comes news of the first two Little Grebe chicks seen on Apr 19. Manx Shearwater: On Apr 15 Martin Cade wrote in the Portland website .. "in case anyone thinks we're not bothering to mention Manx that isn't the case - it's just that their customary arrival in considerable quantity in Portland waters at this time of year hasn't happened so far" .. 25 had been seen at Potland on Apr 11 but the only other reports I have picked up from there so far have been of 31 on Apr 17 and 150 on Apr 18. Great White Egret: One was at Yarmouth (IoW) from Apr 15 to Apr 19 a least and one was at Rye Harbour on Apr 18 while one flew in off the sea at Selsey Bill on Apr 19, heading north to an unknown destination. (Another 20 were at a Netherlands site that day - maybe heading our way?) White Stork: These have been arriving back in northern Europe since Feb 17 and on Apr 6 at least one crossed the Channel to be seen at Folkestone and Dungeness with one reaching Cornwall on Apr 8 but so far no more have reached us. Glossy Ibis: The bird which has been in the Arundel area at Warningcamp since Apr 8 was still there on Apr 21 Brent Goose: Although some of the birds still with us may not stay over the summer I have seen no reports of flocks heading east since Apr 14 when Selsey had 125 and Seaford had 248. Shelduck: A report of a pair at Winchester sewage farm on Apr 17 reminds me that the Shelduck which stay on the south coast to breed have few undisturbed nest sites available on the shore (where humans like to walk their dogs) and long ago learnt to fly miles inland to nest in less 'public' holes despite the very long walk back to the shore to which this condemns their ducklings (the route inevitably involves crossing busy roads and electrified railways). Eider: One strange report this week was of a male Eider on Petersfield Heath Pond displaying to the local Mallards without success. Hen Harrier: A late bird was still in the Danebury area near Stockbridge on Apr 15 Montagu's Harrier: A 'possible' had been reported from Dorset on Apr 8 but the first two definite reports for the year came from Poole Harbour on Apr 15 and 16 (probably the same bird) with two others seen in the Netherlands on Apr 17 Hobby: At least six have reached southern England since Mar 25 when one was seen in Dorset and among the new reports have been one from Northney (Hayling) on Apr 15, one from Portsdown on Apr 17 and one at Woolmer Pond (north of Petersfield) on Apr 18. Corncrake: Sussex birders had an unusual opportunity to see a Corncrake when a migramt arrived at Beachy Head on Apr 15 and decided to stay there until Apr 18 - admittedly it did demonstrate its ability to remain unseen for hours at a time and (as far as I know) was not vocal. The Beachy Head blog entry for Apr 18 sums up this bird's visit .. "We spent early morning and evening looking for the Corncrake in Shooters Bottom and finally connected with it at around 19.40 when it showed well along the edge of one of the paths for some 10 minutes from 20 yards range, much to DC's relief as it was a Sussex tick for him. Since 1960, 29 records although a number were seen by the late Tom Bridger who was the farmer at Cornish Farm and knew Corncrake very well. The 15th April is now our earliest Spring record, our previous earliest was on the 19 April, 1970." To see a run of eight photos of the birds go to http://beachyheadbirding.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/10-april-2013-to-17-apr-2013- beachy-head.html and scroll down. Moorhen: Brian Fellows reported the first chicks for the year in Fishbourne near Chichester on Mar 20 and this week I see that another family of five chicks hatched somewhere in Sussex on Apr 14. Common Crane: Two were near Penzance in Cornwall on Apr 20. Knot: 31 were at the Hayling Oysterbeds on Apr 15 with 15 there on Apr 16 Purple Sandpiper: Still 10 at Southsea Castle on Ap 19. Wood Sandpiper: The first for this year was in the Netherlands on Apr 12 followed by reports of singles in Belgium on Apr 17 and 18. Pomarine Skua: Spring passage seems to have started on Apr 14 with two birds passing Worthing and since then seven more birds have been seen including the first three recorded at Selsey on Apr 19. Little Gull: These have been present in the English Channel since the start of January and there was a count of 3865 from Cap Gris-nez on Mar 9 but numbers shot up again this week with a potential total on Apr 20 of 8538 at six continental sites. On Apr 16 a lone bird was seen inland at Fleet Pond. Little Tern: There have now been 13 reports since one reached the Netherlands on Apr 6 but numbers remain low - on Apr 19 counts of 4 at Rye Harbour and 5 at Christchurch Harbour were the highest up to that date but 7 were on the Lymington shore on Apr 20 and 8 were on the sea at Selsey on Apr 21. Black Tern: A flock of 23 at a Netherlands site on Apr 20 was the first in double figures and other than the exceptional report of one off the Bognor area on Mar 9 and 10 the current run of seven sightings which started on Apr 12 have all been across the Channel. Turtle Dove: By the middle of this week the only regular summer migrants which had not reached England were Quail, Honey Buzzard, Wood Sandpiper, Turtle Dove, Nightjar, and Spotted Flycatcher and that list was reduced by one on Apr 20 when a Turtle Dove was seen at Calshot on Southampton Water (one had reached the Netherlands on Apr 17). On Apr 21 'purring' could be heard at Martin Down where a pair were present. Cuckoo: Although many of us may not have heard one yet these have been in England since Mar 29 and I have ceased to record every report. Swift: These too have been around in England since Mar 23 and will soon be here in large flocks to judge by the appearance of 595 at one Netherlands site on Apr 20. Alpine Swift: One was seen in the Scillies on Apr 16 followed by one at Dungeness on Apr 17 (when RBA reported a total of 5 in the UK). Red-rumped Swallow: One at Pulborough Brooks on Apr 18 when another was in the Netherlands. House Martin: Although these have been seen in the UK since Mar 6 the biggest flock before this week was of just 15 birds so a count of 30 at Christchurch Harbour on Mar 14 gives hope that there has not been a total collapse of the population. Yellow Wagtail: A count of 6 at Farlington Marshes on Apr 16 and news that males were singing on territory in the marshes east of Rye Bay on Apr 15 is encouraging. On the Isle of Wight 5 Yellow Wagtails at Bembridge Marshes on Apr 17 were accompanied by two Blue-headed continental birds. Waxwing: There were still 8 at Romsey on Apr 20 Nightingale: Of local interest one singing bird was back at the Marlpit Lane site (west of Chichester) on Apr 17. Plenty of others around since Apr 12. Common Redstart: These have been arriving since Apr 3 and are now established in their New Forest territories. Whinchat: These started to arrive on Apr 14 and have been seen in Dorset and Hampshire but maybe not Sussex so far. See http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/files/2013/04/Whinchat-2-Hook- with-Warsash-17-Apr-2013.jpg for a photo taken at Hook (Warsash) on Apr 17 by Steve Copsey of the Three Amigos. Grassshopper Warbler: Present since Apr 9 and seen/heard this week at Christchurch Harbour, Titchfield Haven and Waltham Brooks nr Pulborough. Savi's Warbler: Not yet in England but the first for the year was in the Netherlands on Apr 20. Sedge and Reed Warblers: Now back in the expected places. Subalpine Warbler: First for the year in Poole Harbour (at the 'PC World drain') on Apr 19. Lesser Whitethroat: The first reached Portland on Apr 16 and others were seen next day at Winchester sewage farm and heard at Northney (Hayling), then on Apr 20 one was at Rye Harbour and another was heard singing at Budds Farm in Havant. Common Whitethroat: First was at Portland on Apr 9 and by Apr 17 one was at Brook Meadow in Emsworth and many other places. Garden Warbler: Arrived at Portland on Apr 16 and at Dungeness on Apr 17 but so far not reported elsewhere. Blackcap: Summer birds now widespread. Wood Warbler: Found at West Compton in Dorset on Apr 15 and at Church Norton in Pagham Harbour on Apr 17. Chiff Chaff and Willow Warbler: Both now well established in England. Firecrest: Dungeness reported the arrival of 35 on Apr 14. Pied Flycatcher: First seen at Portland on Apr 11 and by the end of this week at least 8 had been reported including one in a Brighton park. Golden Oriole: A male was briefly in a Birdham garden (south of Chichester) on Apr 16. There had been one other report on Mar 19 in Dorset. Woodchat Shrike: One in South Devon on Apr 18 and another in west Cornwall on Apr 20. Great Grey Shrike: The New Forest (Shatterford) bird last reported on Apr 16 and two were at the Dorset (Wyke Down) site up to Apr 19. Jay: These birds stream into southern England in the auutmn but we do not normally notice a return passage as seems to be happening at the moment. The most recent mention of this was in a report of two Jays in bushes near the mouth of the Adur on Apr 11 after two had been seen in another unlikely spot (Bransbury Common near Andover) on Apr 6. First to notice the movement was Andrew House at Seaford on Apr 5 who wrote .. "Another surprise garden visitor to my north Seaford garden this morning was a Jay followed closely by second. Very few large trees in this area so perhaps they were on their way back to the continent." Current reports on Tretellen give counts of up to 113 birds in the Netherlands between Apr 16 and Apr 20. Serin: These have been seen in the last ten days at Christchurch Harbour, Sandy point on Hayling, Dungeness and Ventnor (IoW). Little Bunting: Second for the year was a male at Christchurch Harbour on Apr 17. (The first was in Lancashire on Mar 13). Escapees: Two birds looking like Mallards wearing Pom-Pom hats (and described as Call Ducks though I think that describes a type of duck rather than a species) have been on Baffins Pond in Portsmouth recently and you can see a photo of one on Brian Fellows website at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0- 0-0-x798-crest-call-duck-baffins-15.04.13.jpg (see http://www.callducks.net/ for more info about this type of duck INSECTS Dragonflies: Large Red Damselfly: The 'latest sightings' page of the British Dragonflies website (http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/latest-sightings ) awoke from hibernation this week with its first news since Dec 8 and reports the emergence of Large Red Damsels in Norfolk on Apr 14, in Cornwall on Apr 19 and in Dorset on Apr 20. Butterflies: Species reported this week: Brimstone: More than 20 seen by the River Itchen in the Eastleigh area on Apr 16 and all across southern England this week. Large White: After the early emergence of one that had been given a preferential hibernation site in a Brighton potting shed and emerged on Apr 11 'natural births' occurred at East Dean (nr Eastbourne) on Apr 14 and at Stubbington (nr Gosport) on Apr 18. Small White: There had been five sighting before this week which had one in Sussex on Apr 14, two in Gosport on Apr 15, and one in Portsmouth plus another in Fareham on Apr 19. Orange Tip: A female was seen in Denmead on Apr 14 and what were likely to have been males near Eastleigh on Apr 16 and in the Waterlooville area on Apr 19. Holly Blue: First for the year at Blackstone nr Henfield on Apr 19. Red Admiral: Two more seen this week in Fareham and Eastleigh. Small Tortoiseshell: 12 seen at one site near Newhaven on Apr 14 and 9 seen at the Testwood Lakes near Southampton on Apr 16. Large Tortoiseshell: One, presumably an early immigrant from the continent?, seen at Newtown (IoW) on Apr 19. Having suggested that it was an immigrant I then went to check the date on which Brian Fellows saw one in Havant last spring (Mar 30) and in so doing I noticed that there had also been sighting at the same IoW site (Walters Copse) on both Mar 27 and Mar 30 last year and this makes me wonder if there might be a local enthusiast in that area rearing caterpillars and then releasing the butterflies - another factor suggesting this is that it seems that last year's butterfly stayed in the same place for four days which is unlikely behaviour for a strong winged migrant which had just crossed the channel (they usually want to keep going). A further check shows that there was another IoW sighting on Mar 14 in 2011 though near Wootton some five or six miles east of Newtown. Peacock: One of the commonest species this week. Comma: Also common this week. Speckled Wood: This is usually one of the early species but, other than an odd sighting in Cornwall on Jan 1 and one near Worthing on Feb 23, the only normal report is a second hand one saying the the species had been seen in the Hollybank Woods north of Emsworth sometime before Mar 13. This week one was seen on Apr 16 in a garden on the southern fringe of Havant Thicket but by Apr 21, with several days of good weather, there have been no more reports (and there has been equal concern for Grizzled Skipper which is normally out several weeks before the present date but which has not been seen anywhere) Other Insects Bee Flies (Bombylius major and B. discolor): On Apr 15 Bob Chapman found the first examples of both species at Farlington Marshes and you can see the differences between them in the two photos he took. See http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/sea-trials-and-bee-flies/ for Bob's full account of the day with photos but to just see the photos go (for the common Bee Fly - B. major) to http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/bombylius-major.jpg and (for the rare Dotted Bee Fly - B.discolor) to http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/bombylius-minor.jpg. On Apr 18 Bob found more Bee Flies at the Swanwick Nature Reserve by the River Hamble. So far I have only heard of one other sighting of a common Bee Fly at a garden in the Denvilles area of Havant on Apr 19. Eristalis intricarius: This hoverfly which disguises itself as a furry Bumblebee, was seen at Rye Harbour on Apr 18. You can read about the species at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eristalis_intricarius and about the sighting at http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/4/18/rye-harbour.html which points out that the insect has three colour forms (for good photos of two forms see http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds2/insectinfocuseristalisintricarius.htm ) Holly Leaf-miner Fly: It is not uncommon to find Holly trees with leaves showing evidence of 'leaf mining' and sometimes of pecking by birds wanting to eat the insect grub within the leaf (or of the exit hole through which the grub emerges to become a fly). Brian Fellows came across such leaves in the Hollybank woods on Apr 19 and suggested that we learn about the fly from a Natural History Museum website but this was inaccessible when I tried to look at it so I found equivalent information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_leaf_miner. Bloody Nosed Beetles: Both the main species and the Lesser Bloody Nosed beetles were active at Durlston on Apr 18 and they my well be seen now on Portsdown. PLANTS Rue-leaved Saxifrage: This started to flower in Havant this week (in the Pallant Carpark) and this plus other finds during the week can be seen in the additions I made to the Cemeteries Page of my website covering my monthly visits to St Faith's Churchyard and the Havant and Warblington Cemeteries for which I prepare monthly Wildlife Posters. For St Faith's see http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm#F1704 - this includes a new find of Rue-leaved Saxifrage and four species of Speedwell (my first find of Wall Speedwell plus several good clusters of Slender Speedweell and the inevitable Ivy Leaved and Common Field species) Also found there was one of the first flowerings of Ivy-leaved Toadflax and a substantial increase in the number of White Comfrey plants which are rapidly becoming a dominant species in Havant. For the Havant Cemetery see http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm#H1704 where the only new flowerings were of Cherry Laurel and Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa forbesii) but I also found Hornbeam catkins starting to develop. For the Warblington Cemetery see http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm#W1704 where the new flowerings were of Snakes Head Fritillaries and a species of tall, yellow-flowered Lily planted by Havant Borough in the natural burial 'wild flower' area. Also found there was a new 'casual' addition in the form of Green Alkanet that I also found this week for the first time in the Juniper Square area of Havant. OTHER WILDLIFE Common Toad: Active in Filsham Reedbed near Hastings on Apr 15 - no doubt this was not the only active site. Common Lizard: Active at the Swanwick nature reserve by the River Hamble on Apr 18. Only previous report was of basking in a Northiam garden near Hastings on Mar 12 Slow Worm: Other than an isolated report of one seen in an un-named churchyard somewhere in Somerset on Mar 10 the first reports came on Apr 16 from Brian Fellows garden in Emsworth and from Pulborough Brooks, followed on Apr 18 by the Swanwick nature reserve by the Hamble river. Leopard Slug: Found on Apr 18 by Bob Chapman at the Swanwick nature reserve under a log - see Bob's photo at http://solentreserves.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/slugs-and- woodlice.jpg?w=500&h=373

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR APR 15 - 21 (WEEK 16 OF 2013)

Fri 19 Apr Egrets are back to nest at last plus other news of spring This evening I cycled past Langstone Pond and found 66 Egrets crowded into the trees where the maximum roost count I have made earlier this year was 24 after a winter resident population of just 7. I did not stop to ensure an accurate count but at least my fears that the birds have abandoned this site have been allayed From Langstone I rode on to North Common on Hayling where I was greeted by my first bold display of flowering Bluebells on the carpark bank - these did not have the small flower spikes, bending to one side, of our native woodland flowers but were tall and erect, however they had relatively narrow leaves so were not the normal garden Spanish Bluebells - whatever they were it was a joy to see my first Bluebells of the year. Next to them, on the Chichester Harbour Conservancy noticeboard by the North Common entrance gate, I was surprised to see my own photo of Green Hellebore which I had sent to John Goodspeed and he had included it in one of his recent Nature Notes posters. As I entered the reserve I heard an unusually loud clamour of Med Gulls coming from behind the hedge on my right and when I got to a point where I could see into the meadow the cause of the commotion was revealed as a Fox dashed across the open grass into cover, his bushy tail stretched out in his haste to get away from the noisy gulls. The only other interest here was my first hearing of the 'seven whistles' of a Whimbrel for this spring. Back at home there was a message on my answerphone asking for help with identification of a strange insect - from the description it was clear that this was a Bee Fly (Bombylius major), the first I have heard of this spring, but when I spoke to the caller I was intrigued to hear that the insect had been found in his house driveway, trying to warm up in the last rays of the setting sun at 7:30 pm and that it had allowed itself to be picked up and had remained on the finder's hand while it was examined and photographed. I fear this is not the only insect whose life cycle has been upset by this abnormally cold and delayed spring, and that the disruption to their individual life cycles will spread through the whole natural world. Although I have not updated this Diary for three days I have been busy visiting the three local sites for which I prepare monthly 'wildlife bulletins' (the Havant and Warblington Cemeteries and St Faith's Churchyard) and have today posted those bulletins on my Cemeteries page ( http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm ) where you can see what I found. In particular I was excited to find a perfect specimen of Rue-leaved Saxifrage flowering at St Faith's where I have never found it before. Also at that site I came on good specimens of both Slender Speedwell and my first Wall Speedwell of the year. At Warblington the 'wild flower area' at the east end of the cemetery extension had a couple of surprises in the form of Snakes Head Fritillaries and some tall yellow flowered Lilies just coming into flower, neither of which I have seen there before. In the main cemetery I was amused to find a cat on a mat in the cremation memorial section near the Toilet block and I balanced this with a model Blue Tit watching over a normal grave (at the Havant cemetery my heart went out to whoever had attached a Mother's Day balloon to one grave which had clearly been there for many years) I am now well behind schedule in my regular routine of collecting news for my weekly Summary so in case I fail to make my Sunday deadline here are some highlights from this week's bird news so far. Perhaps most unusual is the Corncrake which has taken up residence at Beachy Head (see http://www.sos.org.uk/administrator/components/com_jobline4/logo/sos(5).jpg ) - this reminds me of how I once collected a freshly dead Corncrake found under power lines on Hayling and took to show to birders who joined me that day for a walk around Pagham Harbour before giving it to the Hampshire Museum service which had the corpse stuffed and added to its collection. That unlikely story is matched this week by the following account of a walk around a golf course at Seaford which I found on the Sussex Butterfly Conservation website with the photo which you can see at http://www.sussex- butterflies.org.uk/images/Badgers2BlatchingtonGC140413NL.jpg. The story went .. "Today the family ventured around the outskirts of Blatchington Golf Course in Seaford. We were initially very happy to spot our first butterflies of the year. We saw Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma before one of my sons who was ahead shouted to us that he saw some black and white faces peering out of a hole and he said they were badgers. When we got near the hole they actually came out to meet us and kept following us. They were two baby badgers! We suspected as that they were out alone that mum and dad might not now be around. We were initially overjoyed with our close encounter of the baby badger kind (possibly the only one we will ever have)." (these orphans were eventually taken into care but not until after one had had to be removed from the jaws of a Terrier dog) More straightforward bird news (no space here for details) is that the first Golden Oriole was in a Birdham garden, the first Wood Warbler at Church Norton and also seen have been Red-rumped Swallow, Whinchat and Pied Flycatcher plus several Hobbies and daily Swifts. Insect news in addition to the Bee Fly, is of a couple of Hummingbird Hawkmoths emerging from hibernation and of a Speckled Wood in a garden on the fringe of Havant Thicket (though there were three earlier sightings of this insect which cannot have survived on Jan 1, Feb 23, and one in the Hollybank Woods at Emsworth sometime before mid-March) Tue 16 Apr Flowers and butterflies at Havant Thicket but no Lapwings I arrived at Havant Thicket this afternoon in the first period of the hot sunshine we have been promised for the past two days and as I got out of the car a male Brimstone butterfly went past and as I set out for my walk two elderly gentlemen, one of them carrying a butterfly net, were returning to their cars and told me that they had seen Brimstones, Peacocks and Commas. I soon spotted a Peacock but never saw a Comma (nor the Orange Underwing moths which I have seen here in the past and which have been reported elsewhere in the past few days on similar heathland with Birch). The grassland of the Gipsies Plain has I think been without grazing animals this winter since the grazing was transferred from the keepers of the miscellaneous ponies that have been on it all round the year for a good many years to the various 'rare breeds' kept at Staunton Country Park which have been kept indoors during the wet and cold of the winter and I fear this absence of the ponies (and the insects around their droppings) has caused the Lapwings, which have continued to breed here in recent years when they have deserted almost all other agricultural land in southern England, to leave. Today there were plenty of long- horned cattle and and sheep with their lambs but no Lapwings.... Two improvements since my last visit here are, firstly, the complete re-building of the footpath going south past the east end of the Gipsies Plain (not a puddle in sight and an improved view after numerous trees have been removed) and secondly (perhaps not intentionally) the opening up of a gap in the southern fence of the main east-west path across the plain giving free access to what I call the 'orchid ditch', the track leading south to the entry into Hammonds Land Coppice. The ditch beside this track rewarded me today with an excellent show of Wood Anemones and the sound of Skylark song but will not have much more to offer until the waterlogged ground dries out. Here, and when back on the westbound track, I kept scanning the grassland for Lapwing but could only see Corvids. In the Long Avenue I turned north and worked my way around the west side of the small lake at the north end of the trees where I hoped to find Wood Sorrell in flower (last year it was out on Mar 30) but could only find a small patch of the bright green 'shamrock' leaves. Emerging from the Long Avenue I had intended to follow the path east along the southern fringe of the big block of Austrian Pines but when I reached that block I found they were thinning the trees and had taped off the path I was intending to use (and had cleared a broad path north to the 'yellow brick road' along the west end of the pines). However I was determined to have a look for the patch of Common Dog Violets that grows by the dip in the path along the south side of the pines so I pressed on and was fully rewarded with the patch of Violets of which I have photographed a part. As a bonus I found two Drone Flies, newly emerged from hibernation, sunning themselves on the path which gets the sunshine and shelter from the wind which brings on the Violets.

Wood Anemones beside the 'Orchid Ditch' on the Gipsies Plain

Common Dog Violets on the southern edge of the Austrian Pines in Havant Thicket Mon 15 Apr (Link to previous day’s entry) Swallows, Willow Warblers and spring flowers seen on Hayling The weather was hardly springlike when I set off to cycle into a fresh headwind down the old rail line to Gunner Point and when I reached the shore south of the golf course even the young leaves of the Green-winged orchids that I had seen a month ago when I was last there on Feb 15 had disappeared, overtaken by the growth of the rough grass that has temporarily covered them. Looking back to last year the first of these orchids was showing the colour of its unopen flowers as early as Feb 23 and by Apr 16 I could find around 2000 flower spikes with flowers starting to open. In 2009 some 30 flower spikes could be seen by Apr 11 (half a dozen of them opening their flowers) and in 2008 some 23 flower spikes were seen on Apr 12 so this current year must go down as one of the worst ever! Despite the failure of the orchids to match my expectation spring was clearly on its way with Primrose flowers at their peak along much of the Hayling Coastal Path plus a couple of good displays of Coltsfoot and my first sight of English Scurvygrass flowers in the saltings south of Stoke Bay (where you park to visit the Oysterbeds). Coming alongside the West Lane fields I spotted my first Common Dog Violet flowers (though in the fields 37 Brent Geese were still feeding) and a little further on I saw my first Swallow (perhaps expressing its disgust with the English weather by flying south low over Langstone Harbour). Before getting to this point I had passed a big flock of Black-tailed Godwit in Texaco Bay (the bay between Langstone Bridge and the old Rail Bridge) and had guessed there were at least 200 birds but I later saw that Kevin Crisp counted 370. Earlier in the trip, passing the end of Mill Lane at Langstone, the Snakeshead Fritillaries and some Cowslips (both planted some years ago) were showing that they can survive and increase in number without human attention and when I reached the Ferry Inn roundabout I was cheered to see my first Early Forget-me- nots, Sea Mouse-ear and one flowering plant of Eastern Rocket plus, in several places, Spring Beauty already in flower and a mass of Bur Chervil leaves so far without flowers. South of the golf course at least one Skylark was singing and a pair of Linnets were presumably there to nest while there was at least one smart Wheatear perched on the golf course fence and from the Langstone Harbour entrance channel came the distinctive calls of Sandwich Terns, the first time I have heard them this year. During my outing I heard my first Willow Warbler song in two places On my way home I found my second cluster of flowering Ground Ivy for the year and back at Langstone Pond I was cheered to find that the high tide roost of Egrets had increased from ten to twelve birds (with another three seen a little later in the field north of Wade Court - the field south of the house still had half a dozen Teal). Back at home a quick check on the internet showed that in Sussex both Sedge Warbler and Whitethoat had been heard at the Thorney Little Deeps, a Swift had been over the Cuckmere valley, and a Corncrake had been walking around on Beachy Head, another Cuckoo had been heard on the Pevensey Levels and a Hoopoe had landed in a Rustington garden near Brighton while yesterday the first Moorhen chicks had hatched and the first Pom Skua had flown past Splash Point at Seaford. Here in Hampshire I apparently missed a big fall of Willow Warblers (Tim Lawman found at least 80 in the Sinah Common area in the evening), a Common Tern at the Oysterbeds and a Hobby in the Northney area. A Pied Flycatcher was seen in Southampton while Reed Warblers were seen at both Farlington Marshes and by the Hamble River. On Portsdown Keith Turner saw a male Redstart near the Paulsgrove Chalk Pit and in the far south west of the county at Milford there was an early Swift to match the Sussex bird while at the Lower Test Marshes the first Whinchat of the year was seen with yet another Cuckoo and Sedge Warbler - also worth a mention were three more Nightingales near Calshot on Southampton Water. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR APR 8 - 14 (WEEK 15 OF 2013) BIRDS Summer Migrant arrivals: Although there had been reports of Cuckoo in Devon on Mar 29 and 31 these started to arrive this week with birds on the IoW and at Seaford on Apr 10, at Thorney Island on Apr 11 and on Apr 12 at Lewes and in the New Forest - latest were at Lymington, Broughton Down near Stockbridge and Wisborough Green near Pulborough on Apr 14 when two more were in the New Forest. Another exciting arrival has been of Nightingales - on Apr 13 they were heard singing at Pulborough Brooks and at Rye Harbour (at 1 am) and on Apr 14 one was singing at noon on Thorney Island, just north of the Little Deeps. The first Common Whitethroat reached Portland on Apr 9 when another was reported in the north Hayling/Langstone area, then on Apr 11 they were seen at Dungeness and Christchurch - today (Apr 14) one was at Eastney in Portsmouth. The first Grasshopper Warbler was at Portland on Apr 9 and at Christchurch on Apr 11 with another at Durlston on Apr 14. Both Sedge and Reed Warblers have also arrived - the first Sedge was singing by the Adur on Apr 7 with one at Cogden in Dorset on Apr 10 when another was at Winnall Moors in Winchester followed by one at Christchurch Harbour on Apr 11. The first Reed Warbler was at Warsash on Apr 3 with another by the Test near Andover on Apr 6, then one at Portland on Apr 9 and another by the Itchen at Winnall Moors on Apr 12. The first report of a Hobby was on Mar 25 in Dorset followed by another/same? at Durlston on Mar 28 and another in Dorset on Apr 4 - those three may all have been the same bird but this week brought a further small wave of arrivals with news of 2 on the Trektellen site on Apr 8 (one at Durlston and another somewhere not stated). Trektellen then reported one in Gloucestershire on Apr 10 but now records 6 separate birds in the Netherlands on Apr 14 (four of them together at one site). Finally an oddity with the first Swift being seen in the Scillies on Mar 23, then another at Portland on Apr 9 and a more genuine arrival of 6 in the Netherlands on Apr 13 (though maybe this was just one bird seen at six sites). To end this section I see that Little Terns reached England on Apr 8 when 4 flew north over Dorset, Apr 9 brought one to Selsey and Apr 12 saw two fly east past Seaford and on Apr 13 three were in the Lymington area. An abnormally early Black Tern was seen off the west Sussex shore at Climping on Mar 9 and then flew inland over Bognor on Mar 10 but Apr 12 brought a more likely sighting of 2 in the Netherlands followed by 7 there on Apr 13 Blackcap changeover: There is always some uncertainty as to whether a Blackcap seen or heard at this time of year is a new arrival from Africa or a bird departing for central Europe and the extensive overlap between the two makes it impossible to be sure without evidence from rings but there are signs we can look for, the most obvious being the sudden appearance of many birds in new places (especially at coastal bird observatories). Two other signs are (a) the start of full song and (b) 'fast feeding'. None of these signs are conclusive evidence - both departing and arriving birds can build up in numbers at coastal sites (especially in adverse weather) - the start of song is dependent on the bird's state of health which is again weather, food and hormone dependent as well as the urge to establish a territory on arrival in the intended breeding area - and the need to feed is not only a sign that the bird has used up its energy reserves during a long flight but may also be caused by shortage of food due to bad weather, failure of 'crops', or forgetfulness by humans to supply the birds with food. My own guess as to when our summer birds started to arrive is based on the sudden arrival of 60 Blackcaps at Portland on Mar 24 (the only previous reports there were of 5 on Mar 23 - part of the same influx - and of one heard singing on Feb 16, presumably a wintering bird 'feeling good') Since Apr 1 I have noticed 29 south coast Blackcap reports covering at least 142 birds and 28 of these have occurred between Apr 9 and 13, with 87 of the 142 birds being reported on Apr 11 (when St Catherine's Point had 20, Christchurch Harbour had 36, Dungeness had 8 and Pagham Harbour had 6). Interestingly for those who rely on song to announce the arrival of our summer birds, of two local gardens which had an influx on Apr 12, one on Portsdown did have a bird in full song while one in Emsworth noticed that the birds were very hungry and did not have time to sing Perils of passage: Anyone who keeps in touch with the internet reports of birds arriving 'in off the sea' will know that many of the migrants die in the attempt to cross the sea, either from exhaustion or predation by the gulls, skuas and raptors which queue up to pick them off en route - on Apr 8 Bob Self, seawatching at Seaford, wrote a typical obituary to .. "a single unknown passerine whose brave attempt to reach shore ended in a watery grave only a few yards short of its objective." This spring the bad weather has emphasised another cause of death, the urgent need to replenish the bodily energy store of fat which has been exhausted during the long flight. This problem was brought to our attention by Keith Betton who posted two messages on HOSLIST saying, on Apr 8, .. "I have heard of two Stone-curlews being picked up dead in the last week (one in Wilts, one in Hants) - both well under the normal expected weight." followed by "Another dead Stone-curlew now found locally. Three also found dead in Norfolk." Divers: What looks like a final surge of departing Red-Throated brought a count of 1156 passing Cap Gris-nez on Apr 7, then 1021 off the Suffolk coast on Apr 8 and 1160 off the Netherands on Apr 9 with a peak of 539 passing Dungeness on Apr 9. Locally an oiled bird was at Chichester Ivy Lake on Apr 10. More Black- throated than usual were seen leaving the English Channel with at least 64 passing Cap Gris-nez on Apr 7 and possibly a total of 91 along the French Normandie coast on Apr 9. Only five reports of Great Northern caught my eye (compared to 14 reports of Black-throated) but more than one White-billed was still being seen in the northern isles Grebes: One Red-necked was seen at Dungeness on Apr 9, 10 and 12 and maybe that bird was off the Netherlands on Apr 13 while a different bird was at Christchurch Harbour on Apr 11. There were still 9 Slavonian at Cap Gris-nez on Apr 7 but nowhere had more than 3 later in the week (in Hayling Bay on Apr 11 and in the Netherlands on Apr 13). The only substantial flock was of 47 Black- necked at Cap Gris.nez on Apr 7 Glossy Ibis: What may have been the Warblington Bird (which was last seen there on Mar 22) was thought to have flown east to Arundel where one was seen at the Wildfowl reserve on Mar 30 before appearing at Pulborough Brooks on Apr 1. This week one has re-appeared at Arundel on Apr 8 and was still there (at Warningcamp just across the Arun from the Wetlands Centre) on Apr 14. Spoonbill: A major movement on the continent brought a report of 780 in the Netherlands on Apr 8 and 380 on Apr 9. The six which have been at Titchfield Haven for some time were down to 4 on Apr 9 and have not been reported since and on Apr 12 two turned up at Pagham Harbour White-front Goose: There were still 32,000 in the Netherlands on Apr 7 but only 16543 reported on Apr 12 Barnacle Goose: Still 44,000 in the Netherlands on Apr 13 Brent Goose: Biggest flock in southern England this week was 2800 passing Dungeness on Apr 10 but 3400 were in the Netherlands on Apr 13 (when Christchurch had 61 and there were 58 at Weston on Southampton Water). Red-Breasted Goose: It seems very likely that the bird which left Farlington Marshes on Apr 5 was seen at the Oare Marshes in north Kent (with just 5 Brent) and then, an hour later, at Margate with 450 Brent all pressing on east. Black Kite: Three reported sightings in southern England this week give raptor watchers somehting to look out for. One was near Brighton on Apr 8, another near Weymouth on Apr 9 (when perhaps 7 were seen in the Netherlands), another in Suffolk on Apr 11 Montagu's Harrier: A possible sighting was reported on Apr 8 near Dorchester in Dorset. Osprey: I have now picked up 49 reports since the first in Cornwall on Feb 27 but the first local bird, seen over Langstone Harbour on Apr 12, deserves a mention. Curlew Sandpiper: A bird that was wintering on the Exe estuary in Devon from Jan 19 to Apr 1 has not been seen there since but one turned up on Brownsea Island on Apr 6 and was then seen at the Hayling Oysterbeds on Apr 7 before two were reported at Lymington on Apr 10 Skuas: These are now starting to move up the English Channel in flocks with 47 Arctic at Cap Gris-nex on Apr 10 and 64 Bonxies passing Seaford on Apr 10 (no current Pomarine passage) Arctic Tern: These started to appear in sea watching reports this week with two in the Scillies on Apr 8, four off Hastings on Apr 9 and two at Seaford on Apr 12. Hoopoe: One has been at Portland on Apr 7 and 10, in Cornwall on Apr 9 and in Belgium on Apr 12 Wood Lark: Of local interest one was in the Stansted East Park on Apr 11 Yellow Wagtail: Birds of Hampshire tells us that as recently as the 1980s up to 15 pairs could be expected to breed at Farlington Marshes but nowadays we are lucky to see one there during spring passage and that was achieved this year on Apr 9. The only sites to have more than one bird so far this year are Portland (with 2 on Apr 11) and Christchurch (with 4 on Apr 13). Waxwing: A few are still around - peaks this week have been 28 at Romsey on Apr 11, 15 at Chideok in Dorset on Apr 8, 15 in Stoneham between Eastleigh and Southampton on Apr 9 when there were still 11 at Exeter. A report of 43 in the Kent Stour valley on Apr 7 seems to be of birds passing through on their way east. Red-flanked Bluetail: The first (and only) bird to get a mention this year was in Norfolk on Apr 10 Black Redstart: RBA reported a total of 59 in the UK on Apr 9. Common Redstart: These have been seen since Apr 3 and Portland had 13 on Apr 11. On Apr 12 one was seen by the stream which feeds Langstone Mill Pond. Stonechat: A sign that these are now returning to coastal breeding sites was the appearance of 11 at Christchurch Harbour on Apr 11. Ring Ouzel: These continue to pour into England with a UK Total known to RBA of 56 birds on Apr 9 (these are the birds reported to RBA as 'rare' and the number is likely to greatly underestimate the real population). Locally one was seen at Stoughton village (source of River Ems) on Apr 8. Migrant Thrushes: Both Fieldfare and Redwing are still being seen in flocks of several hundred and both species have been heard in chattering subsong as they psyche themselves up for passage. There have also been numerous reports of Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Robins apparently arriving in this country from the continent which seems to contradict the idea that all the European birds come here for the winter and presumably should now be heading back (not arriving) but maybe I have misunderstood where these birds have come from and are going to. Pallas' Warbler: The bird in the Eversley area on the Hants/Berks border was still there on Apr 11. Willow Warbler: By Apr 9 a count of 70 newly arrived migrants was made in south Devon and on Apr 12 Martin Cade estimated a fall of 500 had occurred at Portland. Red-breasted Flycatcher: On Apr 11 a lady approached the sea watchers at Selsey with a photo and asked them what the bird was that she had just seen in her garden. Apparently the photo showed a Red-breasted Flycatcher but as no one asked the lady her name and address it was impossible to track the bird down for confirmation! Pied Flycatcher: One definitely seen at Portland on Apr 11 but so far no others have been seen. Great Grey Shrike: Still present this week at Morden Bog near Poole Harbour on Apr 6, at Bishop's Dyke in the New Forest on Apr 7, and at Wyke Down in north east Dorset on Apr 12. Chaffinch: Very large numbers on the move this week - 157000 in Belgium on Apr 8, 80,000 to 100,000 in the Netherlands on Apr 9, and more than 5,000 at Sandwich Bay on Apr 12. Serin: A couple had been seen in March (in Cornwall on Mar 24 and in Belgium on Mar 25 but this week one reached the Isle of Wight on Apr 6 and two were at Christchurch Harbour on Mar 10 when another was at Sandy Point on Hayling. INSECTS Butterflies: Species reported this week: Brimstone: At least 12 seen in Hants and Sussex between Apr 4 and 11 (but onlu reported this week). Large White: Caterpillars which had been taken into a Brighton garden potting shed last autumn started to emerge as butterflies on Apr 11. Small White: Adults had been seen in January and March but one emerging in Apr 7 at Lewes was at a more normal first date and may be followed by others. Green Hairstreak: A female seen at Titchfield Haven on Apr 11 has been recorded as the first anywhere in Britain (to check on the first appearance of any species go to http://butterfly-conservation.org/52/first-sightings-2013.html Red Admiral: Just two seen in Sussex this week Small Tortoiseshell: 16 sightings this week including one at Brook Meadow in Emsworth - at least 45 individuals have been seen since the first appeared on Jan 1. It certainly seems that this butterfly is recovering from a severe crash in numbers which started in 2003 and is thought to be caused, at least in part, by a fly called Sturmia Bella which lays its eggs in Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars causing the death of the caterpillar as the fly larva eats its innards. For more on this fly (which only arrived in this country around 1990) see http://chrisraper.org.uk/blog/?p=283 Peacock: At least six sightings this week including one on my front path on Apr 14 Comma: At least 17 seen this week. Other Insects Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius): Queen out feeding (just feeding herself hence no pollen baskets on her legs for the collection of food for others in the nest) on Apr 8 at Galley Hill (Bexhill) where the first Mining Bees were also active. PLANTS New Moss Species: See http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/4/8/rare-moss- found-at-rye-harbour.html for an account of a "new to England" Moss species found at Rye Harbour on Apr 8 Meadow Buttercup: I had my first sight of the flower-buds of this species for the year on Apr 8 at the A27 Underpass 'Emsworth Wayside site' Stinking Hellebore: Also on Apr 8 at the same A27 underpass site I found a large bush of this in full flower on the edge of the sliproad coming down from the westbound A27. I am surprised that I have not noticed it before and also by how it managed to get there. Spotted Medick: First flowers of the year also found at the A27 Underpass on Apr 8. Rue-leaved Saxifrage: Several plants in flower at the Pallant Carpark in Havant by Apr 14. Look for them on the pavement beside the north wall of the Gazebo building and on that wall and the wall separating the public carpark from the private one belonging to the Bear Hotel. Alexanders: Although this was flowering on Portsdown on Feb 4 the plants along Thornham Lane on Thorney Island were only just starting to flower in Apr 8. Scarlet Pimpernel: Reported flowering at Durlston on Apr 8 but I have yet to see or hear of it elsewhere. Slender Speedwell: Just one early plant flowering in Havant St Faith's churchyard on Apr 9. Early Forget-me-not (Myosotis ramosissima): Flowering at Durlston on Apr 8. Green Alkanet: First flowers on garden escape plants in Havant on Apr 11. Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria): Found and photographed in West Dean Woods near Chichester on by Graeme Lyons on Apr 13 when checking on the Wild Daffodils which grow there and which he also reports on - see http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/teeth-and- brains.html Good Friday Grass (Luzula Campestris): This now covers much of my lawn and is so unexciting that I have not reported its start of flowering this year - on Apr 11 it had been in full flower for several days. OTHER WILDLIFE Pipistrelle bat: These were seen flying in midday sun at both Portland and at Emsworth on Apr 2 and 3. One theory to explain this was the shortage of insect food in recent cold nights, leaving the bats (hungrier than usual after only recently emerging from hibernation) needing to feed during the day when more insects were flying.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR APR 8 - 14 (WEEK 15 OF 2013)

Thu 11 Apr

One new flower and still a few Brent (plus the first local Cuckoo) Walking through Juniper Square this morning I found the first flowers on garden escape Green Alkanet My only other outing was to the harbour shore at Langstone at low tide in the evening following the Billy Trail down to the old rail bridge where 36 Brent were feeding on seaweed against which their plumage is very good camouflage Down at the tideline where the birds are more obvious there were small numbers of Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin plus a few Wigeon and Merganser. Overhead Med Gulls were returning to the harbour after feeding inland, their constant chattering sounding like a party of mature ladies coming back from market with endless murmurs 'Coo-er - would you believe it' as they told each other of their day's adventures. On the Langstone village shore I found a pair of Shelduck but none of the Teal that there have been up to now - though some distant small duck at the water's edge were probably Teal. There were also no Brent in sight but as soon as I had written them off a flock of around 50 flew out from the Warblington fields to settle briefly on the water - perhaps they had been exploring a new overland passage route like the flock of 45 which flew north up the River Arun to Pulborough on Apr 8 and bravely continued north east overland? No increase in the number of Egrets at the pond at dusk but I did spot a cock Pheasant in the pony field south of Wade Court (in previous years they have been regular there but this is the first I have seen there this year). A couple if items which caught my eye on the internet today came firstly from Barry Collins who had heard both a male Cuckoo and a singing Willow Warbler at the Thorney Little Deeps earlier today and secondly from Tim Lawman who had seen a Willow Warbler at Budds Farm this morning and then seen 83 Brent moving through Hayling Bay this evening. Wed 10 Apr Shelduck back at Budds Farm and Rue-leaved Saxifrage in flower This morning I cycled down to Budds Farm and found a pair of Shelduck, a pair of Canada Geese and both Swans on the water with at least a dozen Chiff Chaffs busily feeding in the trees. Last time I was here I could only see one of the Swans and assumed that they had a new nest site with one bird sitting out of sight but today both were idling their time on the water, giving the impression that they have not yet started to nest, perhaps because growth of brambles on the narrow bank dividing the pools has not left room for them to build in the normal place - we shall see. The Canada Geese had also not settled and seemed to be having a domestic dispute while the two Shelduck were sitting idly on the bank as if they had no intention of nesting - maybe all three species will be behaving differently next week when the rain has passed end the sun is shining. Heading towards Langstone along the shore I had a pleasant surprise when a Meadow Pipit came fluttering down in full song so maybe they will nest again this year. Reaching the mouth of the Langbrook I found a large Pipit perched with its back to me (I never got a view of its breast) which might have been a Water Pipit but it disappeared when my attention was distracted by a male Reed Bunting. Out on the harbour there were still 25 Wigeon and haf a dozen Mergansers but nothing else Reaching Langstone Pond just one Egret was in the nest trees and three others were round the pond edge with no sign of any nesting activity and even the Swan was off her nest. An unexpected bird on the pond was a handsome Common Gull and in the reeds and scrub I could hear a Reed Bunting which is probably there to breed. The reduced flood in the pony field north of the pond still had 50 Teal High spot of the day came after lunch when walking through the Pallant car park I found that several of the Rue-leaved Saxifrage plants around the Gazebo area now had minute white flower buds. Tue 9 Apr Slender Speedwell and Stinking Hellebore in Havant A glimpse of sun this afternoon sent me back to the A27 underpass on the Emsworth Road to re-check the flowers which I saw yesterday and thought might be Slender Speedwell on account of their unusually long flower stems and unusually pale petals. Having done my homework last night a brief look with my hand lens showed that the stems of these plants were clothed with a mass of long, tangled hairs, ruling out Slender Speedwell whose stems have the thinnest coating of fine down on them as can be seen in my photo of the stem and leaves. While at this 'Emsworth Waysides' site I confirmed the presence of Common Whitlowgrass in the moss close to the foot of the broken fence separating the wayside from the slip road beyond it and while looking towards the road noticed a large clump of Stinking Hellebore plants in full flower close to the roadside and behind the metal posts holding up a board presumably designed to direct motorists approaching the roundabout (but currently the board is blank!) Anyone wanting a close look at this Hellebore would be advised to take secauteurs and/or garden gloves to make their way through the shrubs and vicious Rose Briers. Still with Slender Speedwell in mind I went to St Faith's churchyard on my way home to collect some of the distinctive leaves of the 'real thing' and while there I was lucky enough to find one plant starting to open its first two flowers but when I got it home I was unable to persuade it to fully open its flower which remains closed in my photo (the open flower is the Common Field Speedwell). In my other photo the stem section comes from the Slender Speedwell in the churchyard and below it the larger leaf on the left is Common Field Speedwell in comparison with a leaf from the Slender plant. Mon 8 Apr Havant to Nutbourne For the second day running the first bird song heard in my garden came from a Chiff chaff making its way north up the Billy Line and with the wind coming from the east I decided to cycle into the wind to see if any Sedge Warblers (which had been heard yesterday in the Adur valley) had arrived on Thorney Island. First stop en route was at the A27 underpass on the road to Emsworth and here I added both Meadow Buttercup and Spotted Medick to my wild flower list for the year. I may also have found Slender Speedwell but I was proved wrong with a putative find here last year and so am deferring judgement until I have armed myself with the facts that distinquish this species before having a second look to check those facts. While here I did note a good show of Common Whitlowgrass and, along the edge of the road east of here, a good show of Danish Scurvygrass. Next point of interest was the Rookery south of the Emsworth Primary School where I found the 22 nests which Brian Fellows had found on Mar 26. Nothing further of special note as I made my way through Brook Meadow and the Emsworth Marina area to the Little Deeps where the only bird song came from Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting but I was cheered to see a lot of Coltsfoot flowers lining the track where it passes the Little Deeps and, on the Gorse bushes in Eames Farm field, a pair of Linnets in spring dress - another slight surprise was to have a Greenshank fly up noisily from the 'canal'. Retracing my path and heading east to Thornham Lane I found the Alexanders plants now flowering and at the far end of Thornham Lane found the first of two small parties of less than 20 Brent (the other was in Nutbourne Bay where there was also a flock of around 20 Wigeon). My route home was via Southbourne and Westbourne, then along Southleigh Road where Greater Stitchwort and Lesser Periwinkle were seen without stopping. On reaching Denvilles I turned down Rowan Road to the footbridge over the railway from which I saw something I have never spotted before - the location of the building on which one pair of Black-back and several of Herring Gulls are now nesting alongside the railway.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAR 25 - 31 (WEEK 13 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: The supply of wintering Red-Throated seems to be running out with the largest count of them this week being just 70 passing Splash Point at Seaford on Mar 28 (compared to 380 passing Dungeness on Mar 21). Black-Throated, on the other hand, were slightly more numerous with both Selsey and Christchurch Harbour recording 2 seen together and a massive total of 66 being seen on the French Channel coast on Mar 29. Only seven reports of Great Northern during the week, none of them being of more than 2 birds but to offset this the Pacific Diver was back at Penzance and a single White-billed was off the Isle of Lewis in the north. Grebes: The Pied-billed Grebe was still at Ham Wall in Somerset on Mar 27 and at least one Red-Necked was seen in Cornwall. Numbers of Slavonian were down with a max of 5 in Portland Harbour and 4 in Hayling Bay and nowhere had more than 4 Black-Necked though some were now in full breeding plumage. Bittern: Reports from just three sites this week seems to indicate that a mass exodus has taken place.

Egrets: My fears that Little Egrets might have deserted Langstone Pond as a breeding site have been partially allayed by my own observation of ten birds crouching at ground level under the nest trees when I visited at sunset on Mar 29 and this number of birds in the vicinity was confirmed by a recent independent observation. The weather has clearly delayed the start of breeding this year but I see that on Mar 29 2012 there were 27 birds and 8 active nests to be seen here.

Glossy Ibis: The bird which arrived in a Warblington Farm field (between Havant and Emsworth) on Feb 23 has not been seen there since Mar 22 but it could be that bird which arrived at the Arundel wetlands reserve on Mar 30

Spoonbill: The bird which arrived at Farlington Marshes on Mar 6 (apparently with a second bird which did not stay) was last seen on Mar 25 when it flew east but the two birds which arrived at Titchfield Haven, also on Mar 6, and which increased to five birds on Mar 25 were all still there on Mar 30. Further west around a dozen more birds are still being reported across Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

Brent Geese: We are now very close to the day on which a visit to the Solent harbours finds them devoid of Brent - at the end of last week there were reports of 400 passing Folkestone and 750+ to be seen at the mouth of Chichester Harbour and this week started with a flock of 600 in the north of Pagham Harbour and 350 dropping off at Pett Level on Rye Bay but from Mar 27 on there have been no reports of more than 200 anywhere (though I suspect there were still 500 at least on Farlington Marshes)

Red Breasted Goose: The Farlington bird was still present on Mar 30

Garganey: Reports still continue to be published more or less daily. At the end of last week there were 21 at one Netherlands site (and potentially 34 if we total reports from six sites on Mar 24) and this week there were at least 25 birds in the UK including one seen briefly at Sandy Point (entrance to Chicheseter Harbour) on Mar 27.

Smew: One redhead was still at the Longham Lakes (Bournemouth) on Mar 27 and five still at Dungeness on Mar 28

Osprey: At least five birds arrived on Mar 24 and the same number were seen at different sites on Mar 28 but all ten were in counties west of Hampshire (we did have one coming up the Test and another the Itchen back on Mar 22)

Merlin: Migrants arrived at nine south coast sites this week, including one at Farlington Marshes.

Hobby: One very early bird reported at East Stoke in Dorset (just west of Wareham in the Frome valley) on Mar 25

Stone Curlew: Three reports this week. One at the Exe estuary in Devon on Mar 24. one at Bury Hill above the R Arun south of Pulborough on Mar 27, and one near Salcombe in south Devon on Mar 29.

Little Ringed Plover: Since the first reached Hastings on Mar 7 there have been around 40 reports, some of unusually large numbers (e.g. 23 seen together at Colyford Marsh in south Devon Mar 28 - Colyford is at the mouth of the River Axe, close to the Dorset border)

Kentish Plover: One arrived at Ferrybridge (Weymouth) on Mar 24 but did not stay while two were at Rye Harbour from Mar 25 to 30 at least (though it seems that only one bird has been seen on Mar 29 and 30

Golden Plover: Flocks seen this week at Titchfield Haven (only 18 birds), Maiden Castle in Dorset (500), Lymington Marshes (27), West Compton in Dorset (220), Upottery Airfield in Devon (240), and Ranvilles Lane south of Fareham (144) where several birds were already in summer plumage.

Purple Sandpiper: The number at Southsea Castle was 18 on Mar 2

Spotted Redshank: It seems that the bird which has been coming to spend the winters at Nore Barn (west end of the Emsworth shoreline) since Dec 2004 left for its summer quarters on the night of Mar 27 although a second bird (first noticed at Nore Barn on Mar 14) was still present on Mar 30. Surprisingly, considering all the attention it gets, it seems there is no way to determine the sex of a Spotted Redshank by its size or plumage but it can be assumed that the regular bird is a male by the dates of its passage which are set by the parental duties of the sexes. Males have to get to the breeding site first, build the nest and then wait for a female to come along, mate, and lay eggs in the nest (before moving on to another male and repeating the process). Having laid eggs in several nests the female takes no more interest in her offspring but flies straight back to temperate latitudes, arriving back in southern England at the end of May or early June. The male has to stay and incubate the eggs, then feed the young before he can return but there must be some other reason for this particular bird not reaching the Nore Barn site until (in 2012) Oct 9. The above account of the bird's annual activity is based on facts I have gleaned over the years but I cannot find solid facts to justify it. The best I can do is point to an article in the 'Birds of Britain' web magazine (see http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/spotted-redshank.asp) in which the final paragraph reads .. "Female spotted redshank form flocks and some leave breeding grounds up to a week before eggs hatch. Others desert partners with broods at an early stage. Within three days of birth a brood of young may have been led a distance of almost a mile. The males, accompanied by the juveniles, follow during the second half of July and August".

Barn Owl: Cold and lack of food is bringing many Barn Owls out to hunt in daylight and of local interest one has been seen over the Langstone South Moors on both Mar 2 and 28.

Short-Eared Owl: On Mar 28 one was seen to fly in off the sea at Christchurch Harbour and others were seen on that day near Arne by Poole Harbour, at Wyke Down in north east Dorset, at Farlington Marshes and at Folkestone.

Common Swift: One flying over the Scillies on Mar 23 was the earliest ever seen in the islands

Hoopoe: One also seen on the Scillies on Mar 23 ws found dead there next day.

Shorelark: One was in Suffolk on Mar 27 and other than two in Norfolk from Feb 5 to 8, was the only one in the UK this winter

Sand Martin: 110 were flying over the Blashford Lakes on Mar 25 and there have now been 61 reports since the first arrival on Mar 7 but none have been seen in counties east of Hampshire other than one flying over Ivy Lake at Chichester on Mar 27.

Swallow: Of the 33 reports so far this year only three have been in Hampshire (Mar 23 brought 20 to the Blashford Lakes and a single to the Testwood Lakes near Southampton while a single was at Titchfield Haven on Mar 24) and only one has been seen in Sussex at Selsey on Mar 28. All the rest have been further west with a peak of 50 at Exeter on Mar 23.

Red-rumped Swallow: Just one so far this year over the Scillies on Mar 23.

House Martin: Seven reports this week with birds seen in Sussex, Hampshire, and Cornwall betwwen Mar 23 and 28

Tree Pipit: After one in Gwent on Mar 18 there were singles in the Test valley on Mar 25 and at Christchurch Harbour on Mar 28.

Waxwing: There were still 51 at Exeter on Mar 26 and 20 in Romsey on Mar 28 but the only other places still reporting them were Basingstoke (6 on Mar 28) and Westfield near Hastings (14 on ar 29).

Bluethroat: Following the bird at Portland on Mar 23 and 24 there have been singles on the Isle of Wight (St Helens on Mar 27), at Folkestone (also Mar 27) and a second bird at Portland on Mar 28.

Black Redstart: This week brought a substantial increase in the number of passage birds moving through southern England after a report of 30 in the Scillies on Mar 22 and 23 arriving at Portland on Mar 24. I understand that in northern France the Black Redstart is the equivalent of our garden Robin and it seems surprising that we do not have more of them breeding over here, especially after the way they moved into London bombsites after the war and the fact that there was at least one breeding pair in each of the Portsdown Forts back in 1978. Perhaps 2013 will be the year in which they decide to stay here after their spring reconnaisance trips.

Common Redstart: During my regular trawl through internet bird sites this week I came across at least three reports of 'Redstart' sightings which I dismissed as being references to birds which must, at this time of year, be Black Redstarts but when scanning the Scillies news I came across one report which went out of its way to emphasise that it referred to a male Common Redstart and a check on the latest Hampshire Bird Report gave me the 'earliest arrival' date as 17 Mar 1968

Wheatear: The number reported at Portland was 200 or more on each day from Mar 24 to 27 leaving me wondering how many of them will survive if they fly on north to find their breeding sites buried under feet of snow and no insects to feed on.

Ring Ouzel: These were seen in small numbers at more than 20 sites all along the south coast from Hampshire westward (including Farlington Marshes and Gosport)

Fieldfare: Plenty still passing through Hampshire this week with a peak of 100 birds seen near Ropley in east Hampshire on Mar 24

Redwing: Still plenty of reports (none of them yet mentioning ths communal subsong which precedes their departue on a long haul flight. On Mar 24 there were some 200 with the Fieldfares and on Mar 27 there was a small party of 22 on Warblington Farm near Emsworth.

Blackcap: A mass arrival of around 60 at Portland on Mar 24 must surely announce the arrival of our summer birds (which must be glad to get here and leave the even lower temperatures in central Europe).

Willow Warbler: Five isolated reports between Mar 13 and 21 gave way this week to 12 reports covering some 23 birds in the period from Mar 23 to 29

Bearded Tit: It is well worth looking at Bob Chapman's blog (http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/a-harrier-in-shadow-land/) which describes the construction of special 'nest sites' for Bearded Tits from bundles of reed bound together to allow the birds to build their own nests within the fairly rigid bundles which are much less susceptible to the wind and rain than natural reeds are.

Great Grey Shrike: Birds were still present at both the Shatterford area of the New Forest and Wyke Down in north east Dorset at the end of this week.

Rook: I was pleased to see that by Mar 26 there were 22 active nests at the one remaining rookery in Emsworth (behind the block of flats on Victoria Road almost opposite Emsworth Primary School).

INSECTS Butterflies: Unsurprisingly no reports of butterflies this week

Other Insects Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris): One seen in Emsworth on Mar 25 was determined to be an over-wintering Queen as it was consuming nectar without thought for others, i.e. not filling the pollen baskets on its legs for others to eat when it got back to the nest.

PLANTS Green Hellebore: On Mar 28 I made my annual pilgrimage to the Woodlands Lane site on the hill above Walderton to find these plants in flower. For my photos and more detail go to http://ralph-hollins.net/Diary.htm#2803.

Clematis armandii: Although a garden plant a specimen planted in a garden alongside Wade Lane in Langstone has escaped and taken over a Laburnum tree on which the bright white flowers currently form an eye-catching crown.

Danish Scurvygrass: This has at last started to flower on the central reservation of Park Road South immeditely north of the Langstone roundabout where traffic enters Havant from the A27

Hairy Violet: This started to flower at Durlston on Mar 26 but I am told the flowers were out on Portsdown as early as Mar 20

Greater Stitchwort: Found flowering at two sites east of Havant during a cycle ride on Mar 28

Lesser Chickweed: This rarity was flowering at Durlston on Mar 29. The Hampshire Flora marks it as having been found at both the Sandy Point and Gunner Point ends of the south Hayling shore but I have never come across it and it is not mentioned in Pete Durnell's Wildlife of Hayling Island. Anyone thinking fo searching for it should read the Wikipedia entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellaria_pallida and see the photos at http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/stellaria-pallida-photo_lat-8130.html and http://herbarivirtual.uib.es/cas-uv/especie/4319.html.

Spurge Laurel: This is rapidly vanishing from woods around Havant as a result of deer browsing so I am very pleased to see that Martin Hampton has planted a specimen in the small conservation area that he is managing on land between the Hayling Billy Trail and Lower Grove Road in Havant adjacent to where the path from Grove Road takes you to the Billy Trail.

Female Butterbur: The female plants growing on the wasteland alongside the Langbrook stream in the section of the streamside path between the kissing gates at the east end of Penner Road and the entrance to the HWT South Moors reserve were coming into full flower on Mar 25.

Summer Snowflake: On Mar 25 I had a look at the plants growing among brambles on the south side of Mill Lane at Langstone where the lane passes the West Mill property and confirmed that it was Summer (not the rare Spring) Snowflake by the height of the flowering stems (around 65 cm), the length of the tepals (equivalent of petals) at 17 mm and the fact that all but one of the flowers were in twos (the odd one being single).

OTHER WILDLIFE Otter: First mention of this species for the year comes from Christchurch Harbour where one, presumably feeling the stirring of spring, was seen on Mar 27. No clue as to which river (Avon or Stour) was it origin or destination.

Roe Deer: A buck seen at Durlston on Mar 29 had antlers covered in 'velvet' - last year's antlers will have been cast by the end of December and this year's will be sharpened and ready for action in May.

Hare: A mention of one being seen near Tundry Pond (west of Fleet in north Hampshire) on Mar 29 is only the fourth I have come across this year (others have been on the Isle of Wight, Rye Bay area, and the South Downs near the River Arun).

Adder: When the first emerged from hibernation on the cliffs at Durlston on Feb 4 there was sunshine to warm its body. They have been seen there several times since then but one seen on Mar 29 attracted the comment that the warmth of the sun was outweighed by the cold air temperature for any creature that could not snuggle down somewhere out of the wind.

Tyromyces caesius: This is the name given in my two, usually reliable, books on Fungi (Roger Phillips Mushrooms in the Pan Books series and Stefan Buckzaci's Fungi in the Collins New Generation Guide series) for a small yellowish bracket found on an old Birch in the Hollybank Woods at Emsworth by Brian Fellows on Mar 19. The description given in both books closely fitted the specimen in respect of colour, overall size and size of the pores on the under surface and in the cap being clothed in long hairs but, as is very often the case, the name does not seem to be recognised by mycologists nowadays (e.g. it does not appear in the list of species given English Names) or is applied to a clearly different species which grows on conifers and looks different enough to be called the 'Conifer Blueing Bracket' or tne Blue Cheese fungus. To see Brian Fellows photo of the fungus go to http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x816-fungus-tyromyces- hbw-19.03.13.jpg

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAR 25 - 31 (WEEK 13 OF 2013)

Sat 30 Mar

Egret roost and first Thale Cress Yesterday I paid a quick sunset visit to Langstone Pond and found ten Little Egrets at the foot of the trees in which I hope some will nest again this year. This was a higher count than any I have made recently and coincided with a count of 10 in the fields north of Wade Court made by Nik Knight recently. This morning I had a look at the fast developing leaves of the Rue-leaved Saxifrage plants in the Pallant carpark here in Havant. The best place to see them is on the bit of unused pavement along the north side of the Gazebo but the best specimen was growing on the wall separating the carpark from the Bear Hotel carpark. While there I found my first two plants of Thale Cress already in flower. With nothing more interesting to report I thought I would try to justify my claim that, despite the chill weather, summer migrant birds are arriving surprisingly early and below I have compiled a table showing the dates on which the earliest birds have arrived in Britain. This is a very unscientific study but the results are at least as justifiable as those based on personal observation (based on a chance co-incidence of the location of bird and observer). What I am interested in is the arrival of at least one bird of each species somewhere in the UK (preferably somewhere on the south coast) and in order for me to be aware of its arrival someone has to record the details on the internet in one of the limited number of websites that I visit regularly so the chances of my actually being aware of the 'first' arrival date for a species is very small! What I have done is to list the first arrival dates that I recorded in my table of Mar 27 with the 'average' and 'earliest' dates given in the latest Hampshire Bird Report. I can only do this for species which do not winter here and which do appear in the Bird Report table so I cannot compare my dates for e.g. Chiff chaff and Sandwich Tern and similarly there is no entry in the Bird Report table for species which do not visit Hampshire regularly (Kentish Plover, Golden Oriole and Wryneck). Hopefully a comparison of this year's first dates with the Hampshire average arrival date for a species will support my claim that this is an 'earlier than average' year for migrants (even if they do die of starvation on arrival).

** MIGRANT ARRIVALS ** SPECIES MY FIRST DATE HANTS AVERAGE HANTS EARLIEST Garganey Feb 16 Mar 19 Mar 2 Ring Ouzel Feb 23 Mar 30 Mar 3 Osprey Feb 27 Apr 4 Feb 7 Wheatear Mar 5 Mar 11 Feb 6 Swallow Mar 5 Mar 20 Feb 23 House Martin Mar 6 Mar 27 Feb 10 Little Ringed Plover Mar 7 Mar 17 Feb 29 Sand Martin Mar 8 Mar 15 Feb 27 Black Tern Mar 9 Apr 22 Apr 11 Willow Warbler Mar 13 Mar 29 Mar 15 Tree Pipit Mar 18 Mar 29 Mar 16 Stone Curlew Mar 23 Mar 26 Feb 5 Common Swift Mar 23 Apr 16 Apr 2 Hobby Mar 25 Apr 11 Mar 16

Thu 28 Mar Green Hellebore and Greater Stitchwort flowers Weak sunshine and a relatively light but still chill east wind encouraged me to make a regular early spring pilgrimage via Stansted East Park to a traditional Green Hellebore site alongside Woodlands Lane opposite Lordington Copse just before the lane plunges steeply down into Walderton. Here are three images of the plants, currently at their best, plus a few smaller images to help others find the site.

Green Hellebore plants

General view of the Hellebore site and a patch of non-flowering plants

Lesser Periwinkle site looking from the Hellebores across Woodlands Lane towards Lordington Copse The only other new flower seen today was Greater Stitchwort seen both at the Southleigh Road site in Denvilles (Havant) - just east of East Leigh Road - and on the steep roadside climbing from Racton hamlet towards Alsdworth. Below is a record shot of this flower.

One of several Greater Stitchwort plants seen flowering today. Very little else of note today. Climbing Hollybank Lane on the way out I enjoyed the mass display of Blue Anemones on the grass outside house number 35 (I think!) on the west side, and beside the road running south from Walderton to Racton I very belatedly added Pheasant and Red-legged Partridge (in a field with many young lambs and a gull flock including Med Gulls) to my year list. A glance at Aldsworth Pond showed one Gadwall as the only resident bird.

Wed 27 Mar An interim look at the arrival of our summer migrant birds Despite the abnormally cold weather we are currently experiencing, summer migrant birds not only continue to arrive but they are turning up much earlier than usual. In the past few days I have been astonished to see reports of both Hobby and Swift and so I thought I would list the species which have arrived to clear my own understanding of the situation - and having done so I suspect that others may be interested in the result shown in the table below (which includes some spring passage birds). Note that species which have wintered here are recorded as new arrivals when they are first seen at sites where they are not known to have wintered. Two other summer birds that have been wintering here have been a Turtle Dove seen near Hayle in Cornwall from Jan 16 to Mar 1 and three Lesser Whitethroats seen at Newquay on Jan 22 (maybe since Nov 28), at The Lizard on Jan 5 and at Worthing from Feb 16 to 23.

Mon 25 Mar My first Wheatear and a sitting Swan at Langstone No snow or rain this morning but a miserable raw wind and no hint of sunshine during a walk to Budds Farm and back via Langstone Pond. The first note was of Danish Scurvygrass flowering at last in the central reservation of Park Road South but nothing else of significance until just before reaching the South Moors along the Langbrook Stream path - here, in the 'waste ground' between the Mallards housing and the old farm bridge, the female Butterbur was newly flowering and the plants of Giant Butterbur, which have been flowering since the end of January, had grown tall enough to pretend to be 'Giant'. As I emerged onto the open South Moors Buzzard calls attracted my attention to a pair of these birds flying over the 'South Mere' field just across the Langbrook stream The only surprise as I crossed the South Moors was to hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the central trees (where I usually come across a Green Woodpecker). In the orchid field I had difficulty in finding just one Marsh Marigold flower. On Budds Farm Pools there was a show of duck species (Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, a few Teal and even a couple of Mallard) plus a single Cormorant showing its white 'thigh roundel' and a good number of vocal Med Gulls. Cruising around on its own was a single Swan but there was no visible sign of its mate which was probably on a new nest hidden from my sight. Heading along the South Moors shore I was cheered by my first Wheatear of the year. In the western field (the old IBM sportsfield} a pair of Canada Geese gave the impression of being there to find a nest site and also in the centre of the field a group of four Brent were behaving as if they were purposefully keeping out of the way until their friends had taken off on their long migration flight (and a total of less than 20 Brent along the shore suggested that the majority had already left). At the mouth of the Langbrook there was still a small flock of Wigeon with a smartly dressed pair of Mergansers. Following the stream inland I walked out on the unused farm bridge for a close look at one surviving branch of English Elm that was covered with fresh flowers and after crossing the footbridge into Mill Lane I checked out the now flowering Snowflake plant to confirm its identity as Summer, not Spring, Snowflake. The points I checked all agreed with this identity - tall flower stems just over 60 cm high (Spring would only be 40cm); length of the tepals forming the flowers was at least 17mm (Spring should be no more than 15 mm) and the flowers themselves were in twos (this could be correct for either species but the clumped cluster of around a dozen plants agrees with Stace's comment that Summer Snowflake 'forms clumps') Beside the short section of footpath taking walkers from Mill Lane across the cycle path towards the main road I found the first clump of Snakeshead Fritillary plants with unopen flowers and reaching the Langstone shore there were no Brent in sight (they could well still be feeding in fields as it was high tide) but there was a substantial flock of Bar-tailed Godwit at the tideline (part of the current early passage up channel?). On the pond the female Swan was sitting (first time I have seen the nest) but the presence of just two Egrets did not match last year's observations of Egret nestbuilding getting under way as early as Feb 23 plus a total of 70 Egrets at the pond on Mar 24 and 8 occupied nests by Mar 29. Passing Wade Court the mass of Clematis armandii had formed a crown of pure white flowers on top of a Laburnum tree and when past the buildings I took the field path to the Billy Trail where I turned north and had an unexpected surprise - my eye was caught by what turned out to be a Chiff Chaff working its way upstream on emergent vegetation in search of insect food and as I watched a second bird came into sight on the same mission but this was a superb male Grey Wagtail with is slate grey back and golden underparts offset with a large jet- black 'bib'. I thought my luck must have run out by now but very soon after emerging from the A27 underpass my eye was again caught by movement of a small bird among brambles just above the water surface of the ditch, adding a third bird to my year list (after the Wheatear and Bar-tailed Godwits) with a tiny Goldcrest and to ram home my luck a few seconds later a Firecrest emerged from the same brambles and flew off (this must have been the bird Peter Raby saw here a few days ago). Reaching the exit to Grove Road the final surprise of the day was waiting for me - a newly planted Spurge-Laurel 'sapling' marking the work of Martin Hampton's local conservation group which took on the task of managing this wasteland triangle between the Billy Trail and Lower Grove Road.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAR 18 - 24 (WEEK 12 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: On Mar 21 the number of Red-throated heading east past Dungeness was 380 compared with the count of 1040 passing on Mar 13 so perhaps the majority of these have now left us. The same trend can be seen with Black- throated - where there had been 8 together in Cornwall on Mar 12 this week the peak was only 4 on Mar 22 and the trend for Great Northern was even more noticeable, down from 42 on the south Devon coast on Mar 13 to just 8 in Cornwall on Mar 16. A couple of less expected reports this week were of 3 White- billed Divers off Aberdeenshire on Mar 17 and a further sighting of the Pacific Diver off Marazion (Penzance) also on Mar 17 Grebes: The biggest count of Great Crested still on the sea this week was just 19 off the Hove area of Brighton on Mar 19 and the one Red-necked reported on the English south coast (at Christchurch Harbour on Mar 22) was already in summer plumage. There were still 11 Slavonian in Portland Harbour on Mar 17 but the presence of 7 at Sandy Point (mouth of Chichester Harbour) on Mar 22 probably indicates a movement of these 'up channel'. No reports of Black-necked in Langstone Harbour this week but the number at the Blashford Lakes rose to 4 on Mar 22 and there were still 10 in the Falmouth area Manx Shearwater: After the first few returned to British waters last week (Mar 15) there were only two more reported this week - one at Dungeness on Mar 16 and one at Spurn Head in Yorkshire on Mar 18

Grey Phalarope: One at Flamborough Head on Mar 23 was the second of this year after one on Jan 31

Bittern: Sightings at sites where Bitterns are not known to have wintered indicate that these birds are now returning to their breeding areas and this is confirmed by the Devon Birding website which says that an individual known as Annecke which was fitted with a GPS recorder in Holland in the summer of 2011 is known to have wintered at Slapton Lea in Devon in both 2011/12 and 2012/13, returning to Holland after each 400 km trip to Devon during which she flew at heights up to 1500 metres. Among the eight sites which have reported Bittern this week is Ivy Lake at Chichester were a bird flew openly across the lake on Mar 17.

Glossy Ibis: Last report of the Warblington bird was on Mar 22 but this is not proof that it has left the area

Spoonbill: The Farlington bird was still there on Mar 24 and there were 5 at Titchfield Haven on Mar 22 with singles at Lymington and Lodmoor on Mar 23. On Mar 21 the RBA website said there were 13 in the UK overall.

Mute Swan: The first reports of nest building came on Mar 23 from Farlington Marshes and Exminster Marshes in Devon.

Brent Goose: Despite adverse weather this week Brent continue to head east. Only 168 were reported passing Dungeness on Mar 18 but on Mar 19 Folkestone reported 482 heading east. Mar 20 saw 223 passing Dungeness and Mar 21 brought a count of 515 passing Folkestone while counts from Splash Point near Seaford were of 128 on Mar 22 and 307 on Mar 23.

Red-breasted Goose: Still showing well at Farlington Marshes on Mar 24.

Egyptian Goose: The first goslings of the year were seen at both Bickerley Common near Ringwood and at Tundry Pond (west of Fleet in north Hampshire) with broods of 4 and 1 repectively.

Wood Duck: Pairs were seen at the Testwood Lakes (Totton near Southampton) on Mar 20 and at Birdham Pool (Chichester Marina near Itchenor) on Mar 23.

Pintail: Most duck species are on the move back to nest sites and a typical report was of 477 Pintail at Cap Gris Nez in France on Mar 20.

Garganey: Eight reports this week show that the main body of migrants are now arriving. Six of these were of single pairs (one pair was at Farlington Marshes on Mar 20) but on Mar 23 one Netherlands site had 21 birds (with a potential total of 34 in the Netherlands).

Smew: On Mar 17 one Netherlands site had a flock of 33 and a single was at the Bembridge Marshes on the IoW. Mar 19 saw one redhead still at Longham Lakes (Bournemouth) and on Mar 22 one was at Wellington Country Park in north Hampshire near Fleet and 4 were still at Dungeness RSPB site.

Sparrowhawk: Among all the raptor species which we regard as at least partial migrants many birders overlook Sparrowhawks which will now be moving north in large numbers on the continent and I was reminded of this by news of four flying in off the sea at Dungeness this week.

Buzzard: Over on the continent these are already on the move with counts in the Netherlands of 139 on Mar 17 and 164 on Mar 18. In southern England there were a couple of reports of Buzzards spiralling up in thermals e.g. 16 were photographed in one column at near Torquay on Mar 16 and a minor reflection of birds moving to new territories was the arrival of one at Brook Meadow at Emsworth while on the nearby Warblington Farm three were seen on the ground searching a muddy field for worms which form a substantial part of their diet.

Osprey: After an isolated early arrival of one in Cornwall on Feb 27 the main passage started on Mar 15 with one near Paris in France; a single in Cornwall on Mar 16; two reported over Bridport in Dorset on Mar 18 and on Mar 22 two separate birds seen following the Test (at Romsey) and Itchen (at Winchester) north.

Merlin: These too are heading north through England as they return from winter quarters (taking advantage of the many smaller migrants which become easy prey as they tire on their own long journeys) and this week has brought a flurry of sightings at our coastal sites (Farlington Marshes, Christchurch Harbour, Dungeness, Rye Harbour and the Lymington Marshes). Peak count was five which arrived at Dungeness on Mar 20. Exotic game birds: Singles of both Reeve's and Golden Pheasant were seen this week in a garden near Midhurst and at Fordington in Dorset respectively Water Rail: Local sightings this week at Brook Meadow in Emsworth, Warblington Farm west of Emsworth and at Baffins Pond in Portsmouth (where up to three are still present).

Moorhen: Chicks had already hatched at Fishbourne near Chichester on Mar 20 - see photo at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x824-moorhen- chicks-fbm-19.03.13.jpg.

Avocet: The rate of passage back to breeding sites seems to have speeded up with 819 at a Netherlands site of Mar 17, 666 at another on Mar 18 when 42 were at Rye Harbour, and 940 at a Netherlands site on Mar 22.

Stone Curlew: First of the year was at St Catherine's Point, IoW, on Mar 23.

Kentish Plover: Another first for the year was one in the Netherlands on Mar 23.

Golden Plover: Nine reports, five of them in Hampshire this week (Farlington Marshes, Titchfield Haven, Lymington Marshes, Basingstoke and the West Lane fields on Hayling).

Bar-tailed Godwit: These seem to have started their spring passage a month earlier than usual - last spring the day which seemed to mark the start was Apr 23 when 243 were logged passing Dungeness and by Apr 28 the number passing Cap Gris Nez was 1958. This year 30 went past Dungeness on Mar 21, increasing to 145 on Mar 22 when similar counts were reported at Seaford Splash Point (142) and Worthing (140), the latter count being reported with the comment that the birds were four weeks early.

Whimbrel: With a report of 29 heading east past Splash Point, also on Mar 22, there is no no doubt that these were migrants and not wintering birds (I suspect that Mar 17, when 6 were seen in the Scillies, was the start of the passage arrival)

Spotted Redshank: The two birds which feed at Nore Barn (Emsworth) were both still present on Mar 24 but have been rapidly acquiring their summer plumage. On the Lymington shore however there were still 13 birds on Mar 10 and 10 birds on Mar 10 but this dropped to 9 on Mar 13 and there have been no reports from that well watched area since Mar 13.

Common Sandpiper: In the past we have not expected to see migrant arrivals until sometime in April but maybe they too will be early this year? The only evidence for this is a report of one flying east past Splash Point at Seaford on Mar 22.

Lesser Blackback Gull: The number of passage birds seen along the south coast has been increasing for some time (160 were seen in Southampton Water back on Feb 23 but the passage has been more noticeable across the Channel with 903 at a Netherlands site on on Mar 3, then 1005 on Mar 16 and now 3177 on Mar 23.

Sandwich Tern: 236 were present at Dungeness by Mar 21

Common Tern: There had been six isolated reports from Jan 20 Mar 11 but their arrival has speeded up this week with 2 on the French coast on Mar 22 when a single was at Exmouth in Devon and it or another was in the Weymouth area on Mar 23.

Short-eared Owl: Three were at Wyke Down in north east Dorset at the start of this week and singles have been seen during the week at Farlington Marshes, Sinah Common on Hayling and on the Pevensey Levels.

Hoopoe: The bird which now been seen 14 times in the Poole Harbour area since Jan 23 was still there on Mar 19.

Wryneck: The first to be reported this year was in the Netherlands on Mar 18.

Sand Martin: The biggest count among this week's 13 reports was of 65 at the Blashford Lakes on Mar 23.

Swallow: Blashford Lakes also had the highest reported count of Swallows with 20 there on Mar 23.

House Martin: Just two so far - one in Pembrokeshire on Mar 6 and one at Bude in Cornwall on Mar 22.

Tree Pipit: First and so far only report is of one in Wales (Gwent) on Mar 18.

Meadow Pipit: On Mar 17 Portland reported 5000 coming in from the south but this week the highest count is of 2,200 at Christchurch Harbour on Mar 22 though some continue to arrive each day. Although I have seen several reports of Rock Pipit song I am surprised to say that I have seen none of Meadow Pipit song - however I did hear and see one for myself over the Sinah Golf Course on Hayling on Mar 19.

Waxwing: Still some around with reports this week from Brighton, Romsey, Exeter, Southampton and Sandwich Bay (where the six birds seen on Mar 21 were heading north and presumably en route back to Scandinavia). Latest report is of 12 in Romsey on Mar 24.

White-spotted Bluethroat: On Mar 23 one turned up in the Netherlands and another was found in the ringers nets at Portland on the same day. For 'in the hand' photos go to the Mar 23 entry at http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/aa_latestnews.htm. Wheatear: By Mar 22 the number arriving at Portland was up to 40 and on Mar 23 there were estimated to be 70 arrivals at Christchurch Harbour.

Ring Ouzel: Mar 23 brought a small wave of arrivals to our south coast including one at Farlington Marshes and two at Portland. Another was in Gosport on Mar 24.

Blackbird: From Mar 19 these have been singing thoughout the day almost everywhere, even in the rain.

Mistle Thrush: Of local interest I heard one in full song on Mar 19 in the Langstone fields between Wade and Pook Lanes just south of the A27. The rate at which this species is declining here makes me envious of the report from the Netherlands of a gathering of 311 of these birds at one site on Mar 18.

Willow Warbler: With Chiff Chaffs now present and singing almost everywhere I have only seen 6 reports of Willow Warbler with the first report from south Devon on Mar 13. The latest report on Mar 23 comes from the Lymington Marshes and is the first from anywhere east of Dorset.

Firecrest: Of local interest one was in the trees lining the Hayling Billy Trail where it passes Lower Grove Road on Mar 23.

Marsh Tit: Song heard this week for the first time this year in the Basingstoke and Winchester areas on Mar 16 and 23 respectively.

Golden Oriole: Just one report of the first of year at Langton Herring in Dorset on Mar 19.

Great Grey Shrike: Last seen at both the New Forest (Shatterford) and Dorset (Wyke Down) sites on Mar 20.

Raven: As might be expected there was a bit of aggro on Mar 19 between the Peregrines which have just returned to their established nest site on the Paulsgrove Chalk Pits (Portsdown Hill) and the pair of Raven which started building a nest there on Feb 28 and have been sitting for about a month. I suspect they will learn to co-exist as they do not contend for the same food and the nests are well separated.

Vagrants: An African Chaffinch was reported on Orkney on Mar 21. To see photos of the species and read an assessment of previous claims of this species in the British Isles go to http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=201569.

Escapees: A bird seen at Farlington Marshes on Mar 16 may have been a Cape Shelduck and if you want to know what that would look like go to http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?s=3fd608242eb2ced14f458778d44020 1b&attachmentid=200910&d=1244390657

INSECTS Butterflies:

Small White: Late news of a sighting in Southsea on Mar 11.

Red Admiral: One at Portland on Mar 19.

Small Tortoiseshell: On Mar 14 one was seen in the Kingsclere area near Newbury and another at Gosport followed by one at Lewes on Mar 19.

Comma: One in a Havant area garden on Mar 19.

Other Insects Woodlouse spiders (Dysdera crocata and Harpactea hombergi) : Graeme Lyons came on both species during a survey of the Filsham Reedbed (between Hastings and Bexhill) on Mar 23 (see the first entry under Other Wildlife for more detail) These two spiders both have powerful pincer like fangs which enable them to prey on the 'armor plated' bodies of Woodlice.

PLANTS Mosses: For photos of two attractive moss species now 'fruiting' in Emsworth see the entry for Mar 20 in Brian Fellows blog at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-wildlife-diary.htm which has photos of what are thought to be Tortula ruralis and Bracythecium rutalbulum.

Winter Aconite and Lenten Rose: Both these planted species were flowering in the turf ofSt Faith's churchyard in Havant on Mar 18 - for photos and the rest of my finds there see http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm#F1803.

Blue Anemone: Another garden plant which has now 'escaped' into a dark corner of the Havant Cemetery (in New Lane) can be seen in another 'Cemetery Wildlife Poster' for this month at http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm#H1803

Grey Field Speedwell: I found the first flowers of this at the foot of the south wall of Warblington Church on Mar 20.

Coltsfoot and Butterbur: Neither are first flowerings but of local interest Coltsfoot was a new addition to the plants on the 'Emsworth Wayside' site along the north side of Emsworth Rail Station this week and fully formed Butterbur flower spikes were open at the Brook Meadow site.

Summer Snowflake: John Goodspeed found the expected garden escape flowers out on Mar 18 among the brambles on the south side of Mill Lane at Langstone where it passes the West Mill house. Although it seems odd to call a plant flowering in March 'Summer Snowflake' the much less common Spring Snowflake is said by Stace to start flowering in January, to usually have only one flower (sometimes two) per stem and to have stems no more than 40 cm high whereas the Summer Species flowers from March to May, has longer stems to 60 cm with up to 6 or 7 flowers per stem, each having slightly smaller flowers with tepals (equivalent to petals) 10 to 15 mm long where the larger Spring Snowflake tepals are 15 to 25 mm long.

OTHER WILDLIFE

Vertigo antivertigo: An intriguing name to which I was introduced by Graeme Lyons in his blog entry for Mar 23 (see http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/vertigo- antivertigo.html). This is one of 53 invertebrate species which were found in a one day survey of Filsham Reedbed in the Coombe Haven valley area between Hastings and Bexhill. Also found here were 23 beetles, 8 snails, 8 bugs, 7 spiders, 2 leeches, one moth and earwig bringing Graeme's 'life list' to 4192 species but he selects this tiny Vertigo 'Whorl Snail' (around 1.3mm long) as best find and gives us a photo of it. My brief 'Shire Natural History' guide to Snails does not name it separately but has a single entry for Vertigo species (which it calls 'Whorl snails' with the comment .. "A number of species in this group of very small snails occur in a variety of habitats - identification of species is not easy!!". Although Graeme does not give us any more photos I found this image of one of his finds, the carabid beetle with the impressive name Demetrias imperialis which you can see at https://encrypted- tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQc5f0L3qmxDW6SpJUTbuKuKs481k0o CW1fd0MGNChbh9ldUVmS.

Snake pipefish (Entelurus aequoreus): Great Blackback Gulls are already pairing and taking an interest in nest sites (as has been seen on the Emsworth Slipper Mill Pond raft). On Mar 18 one of a pair intending to nest on a Hastings roof was seen carrying an unusual 'nuptial gift' to its mate, the gift being a Snake Pipefish of which I found a dramatic photo at http://www.oceaneyephoto.com/photo_409982.html - well worth a look! It seems that these fish were rare until five years ago since when the population in southern British waters has increased dramatically.

Lichens: Brian Fellows has now been back to the Hollybank Woods for another look at the Fruticose type Lichen found there (see last week's entry re this) and with the help of a microscope has been able to determine that the stem base of the disputed species is black and thus the species in Usnea subforidana.

Fungi: Best find this week was of Scarlet Elfcup in the Wick Hanger wood above Finchdean (near Rowlands Castle). You can see an image of this species at https://encrypted- tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHBIokFHo1OLWzBWnWkraBJZ54KUz S8axpCbVNv6Zg9acMDDFR. Also seen in a couple of locations this week was fresh growth of 'Jelly Ear' (see https://encrypted- tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSe6RAHp1O9- 5nGC2kcKnFH_5i4dmJEVlJPcm7oknqtiMepP9NPrw)

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAR 18 - 24 (WEEK 12 OF 2013)

Thu 21 Mar The week so far On Tuesday (Mar 19) I cycled to south Hayling in fairly warm sunshine but failed to see any summer migrants though the Sinah Golf Course gave me my first displaying Meadow Pipit, singing as it parachuted back to the ground. Also singing in several places throughout the day were Blackbirds and when I reached Northney on my way home the Rookery was in full spring mode though I could only see around 20 nests. Still on the north Hayling shore, just east of Langstone Bridge, a flock of just over 100 Black-tailed Godwits was still finding food in the tideline mud at low water. Back in Langstone the Swans were showing no sign of nesting and there was not a single Egret near the pond though there was still a good show of Teal in the flooded field north of the pond. Passing Wade Court the early white flowered Clematis armandii was already starting to flower on top of a Laburnum tree which it has climbed to find the most sunshine (I think I am right in saying that this species is sometimes call the early Virgin's Bower as the plant normally given that name - Clematis flammula - does not flower until mid-summer. The best came last - riding up Wade Lane north of Wade Court a Mistle Thrush was in full song from a tree in the fields between Wade and Pook Lanes On Tuesday afternoon, with the sun still warm, I made my monthly visit to the Havant cemetery to collect photos for the wildlife poster which appears in the cemetery notice board. You can see the outcome at http://ralph- hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm#H1803. For me the highlights here were my re- discovery of the patch of Blue Anemones growing in a Nettle patch in a little visited southwest corner of the St Faith's section and, in the even more neglected URC section, a good show of Jelly Ear fungi on a small tree stump (part of the recent welcome clearance by the Conservation Volunteers) Wednesday morning saw me at the Warblington cemetery where I found the Glossy Ibis still visible from the Cemetery Extension (though I recommend anyone coming to see it to follow the footpath towards Emsworth from which you can see much more of the field north of the path and between the Cemetery and the stream). Before that I toured the old cemetery, starting with a walk along the inside of the hedge which separates it from the carpark area. Here I followed a well worn Fox track west along the base of the Hedge until I saw what might have been a Hedgehog ahead - getting closer I found it was an old broom head and that the Fox had marked it with his droppings. You can see this and my other photos at http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm#W2003. One unexpected find was a gravestone engraved with a couple of Kangaroos. Coming back from the extension following the footpath along the southern wall of the church I added Grey Field Speedwell to my yearlist of flowers Mon 18 Mar Flowers in St Faith's Churchyard For my monthly wildlife contribution to St Faith's Church website I walked round the churchyard this afternoon and found a couple of unexpected plants plus a pile of feathers marking a recent vist by a Sparrowhawk. To see the photos I took go to http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm#F1803 The unexpected plants were three species which I have never noticed here before but that is probably because I have not visited at this time of year. The one I was most pleased to see was Winter Aconite, the second most ineresting was a Hellebore cultivar of the type known as a Lenten Lilly, and the third was what will soon be flowering everywhere as a garden escape (the cultivated from of the wild Wood Forget-me-not) but which is only the second example I have seen this year.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAR 11 - 17 (WEEK 11 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: I continue to be surprised at the number of Red-throated Divers which spend the winter in the southern North Sea and English Channel. Back on Jan 4 Trektellen recorded 2842 of them at a single Netherlands site with a potential total of 4150 by adding the number reported at a second site. Those birds have now dispersed and are now returning north giving totals passing Dungeness this week of 1100 on Mar 10 and 1040 on Mar 13 with another 411 on Mar 15. In contrast I only saw three reports of Black-throated this week, two of them being of single birds plus one of 8 birds at Gerrans Bay in Cornwall. Similarly there were only four reports of Great Northern with 5 on the sea at Selsey on Mar 10, the rest came from Devon and Cornwall with a peak of 42 at Branscombe (between Sidmouth and Seaton east of Exmouth) on Mar 14. An unusual report was of a White-billed Diver heading south off the Yorkshire coast on Mar 14 Grebes: The Pied-billed Grebe was still at the Ham Wall reserve in Somerset when two of our Three Amigos went to see it on Mar 10 - for their account and a borrowed photo see http://www.surfbirds.com/community- blogs/amigo/2013/03/10/pied-billed-grebe-ring-necked-and-ferruginous-ducks-at- ham-wall-nine-great-white-egrets-and-bittern-at-shapwick-heath/. At least two sea rafts of wintering Great Crested were 140 birds off Folkestone on Mar 10 and 50 in the Brighton Marina area on Mar 12 while more than one pair were 'weed dancing' at the Weir Wood reservoir in NE Sussex on Mar 14. Two Red-necked were in Cornwall on Mar 12, one was off Dungeness on Mar 15 with up to four in the Netherlands on Mar 16. Portland Harbour had the most Slavonian this week with 9 on Mar 13 when 2 were seen near Plymouth and 3 off the Lymington shore. Mar 14 saw 11 Black-necked in Portland Harbour and 31 at Mylor Churchtown near Falmouth in Cornwall. In Hampshire there were still 3 at the Blashford Lakes on Mar 16. Manx Shearwater: Two off Portland on Mar 15 were the first of the year for Britain as they return to breed

Bittern: The first mention of 'booming' comes from Steve Copsey who heard three different birds when at Shapwick Heath in Somerset on Mar 10 (Last year the first mention came from Dungeness on Mar 12)

Great White Egret: Also on Mar 10 Steve Copsey saw nine at Shapwick Heath in Somerset - this is where the first known UK Breeding by this species was confirmed last year and one chick is known to have hatched (See http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18280491 ) so it is interesting to see that the total of 8 birds there last year has increased to 9 this year.

Glossy Ibis: Two weeks after it was first seen at Warblington (on Mar 4) the bird was still present on Mar 16. I assume it arrived in the UK (probably from Spain) last autumn when a minimum of 15 birds arrived in Cornwall as a single flock on Oct 6 and other reports on the same day may have doubled that number being added to those already in the country. Recently only two of these have been reported but I suspect that the rest have found sites where they can spend the winter untroubled by twitchers so it is no surprise that as spring forces them out of hiding to find mates and breeding sites the number seen will increase - just two have emerged from hiding this week to be seen in Anglesey and over Coventry and I expect that the Warblington bird will not stay there much longer.

Spoonbill: 30 were seen at a Netherlands site on Mar 10 indicating some spring movement and this has also brought birds to Langstone Harbour, Titchfield Haven and Lodmoor with only two birds apparently remaining from the winter flock in Poole Harbour. At Farlington Marshes Bob Chapman got some excellent photos of the bird there - see http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/ The Farlington bird was still present today (Mar 17)

Mute Swan: Just one pair have been reported as starting to nest build at the Exminster Marshes in Devon.

Brent Goose: When I walked round Farlington Marshes on Mar 14 the large number of Brent still there (around 2400 have been reported this week) were showing signs of restlessness to be off with sub-flocks taking off for no obvious reason, circling the area with much chattering, then landing back on the marshes. The birds at Farlington may not have departed yet but many are still passing along the south coast with a peak of 1242 passing Dungeness on Mar 15.

Red-breasted Goose: I had good close views of the bird at Farlington Marshes on Mar 14 when the flock it was with landed on the water of the Deeps for a wash. At least two other birders reported it that day but none have done so since suggesting that it has now left us.

Green-winged Teal: The Lymington marshes bird was still there on Mar 16.

Smew: What may well be the last two reports for this winter were both of redheads - one at Wellington Country Park near Fleet in north Hampshire on Mar 14 and the other at the Longham Lakes at Bournemouth on Mar 13.

Osprey: The second sighting of this year (after one flying north over Land's End on Feb 27) comes from the Ile de France near Paris on Mar 1

Common Crane: This week has brought daily reports of up to 136 birds from sites in the Netherlands and Germany plus a report of 4 at the Slimbridge site in Gloucestershire on Mar 14.

Spotted Redshank: Winter birds are still with us this week but probably will not remain much longer. On Mar 10 there there still 10 on the Lymington marshes but this seems to have dimished during the week with only one seen on Mar 17. At Emsworth the 2 regular birds were still present on Mar 16.

Black-headed Gull: A sign of the season was the first observed mating by a pair at the Hayling Oysterbeds on Mar 14.

Common Tern: Two reports this week. 6 were seen at a Netherlands site on Mar 10 and on Mar 11 one was reported on the Suffolk coast at Thorpeness.

Black Tern: The earliest date of arrival in Sussex for the years since 1960 was Apr 2 up to this year when one was seen 'dip feeding' off the Climping beach near Littlehampton on Mar 9 and seen again flying inland on Mar 10. My only evidence for this come from Owen Mitchell who made the following entry on the SOS News site on Mar 15 ... "According to Bola's Climping blog, an amazing record of an early Black Tern dip-feeding 75yds off Climping beach on 9th March, before heading N inland over Atherington cottages. Now news reaches my ears that the bird was apparently reported in the Flansham area (nr Felpham) the following day. Seems the news wasn't released, but can't think why.....oh well."

Long-eared Owl: This is a very elusive species which does breed in both Hampshire and Sussex but is rarely seen by daytime birders so it is worth a look at the Portland website on which Martin Cade has managed to capture a photo of a bird which he thinks has been present very close to the Portland Observatory for over a month without anyone seeing it - see the Mar 15 entry at http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/aa_latestnews.htm. Another sighting at Alresford in Hampshire was equally surprising - on Mar 12 a party of birders saw .. "a LEO came over the hedge behind us, flew across in front of us and along the lane to our left before dropping into the hedge about 10 yards further on. We walked along a few yards and it flew out and along before diving into the hedge once again. We walked on and it flushed once again, this time flying across the road into the plantation of conifers between the road and the river. It landed briefly in sight before heading deeper into the plantation" The latest Hampshire Bird Report indicates that at least one pair bred successfully in the county in both 2010 and 2011 so hopefully this will be true again in 2013.

Bee-eater: An equally unexpected sighting was made on Mar 9 in the Woodfidley area of the New Forest by a couple of experienced birders familiar with the species, at least abroad. The sighting was reported on HOSLIST by Tony Hale who said .. "Elisabeth and I had just crossed the railway line at Woodfidley (SU346038) at about 12.30, when we disturbed 2 birds which flew off together, uttering a vaugely familiar but rather more strident call. They immediately separated and disappeared behind a tree! We both went to opposite sides of the tree and picked them up but unfortunately being up in the sky, we couldn't see any colour. The one that I was watching was circling as it drifted away to the SE (towards Hatchet Pond) and had the distinctive silhouette of a Bee Eater. The other one flew across in front of Elisabeth, a bit nearer and she was able to see the tail points. Unfortunately we didn't hear them call again, and we didn't see them join up. We eventually lost them behind the trees. We are fairly certain that they were Bee Eaters as we have seen them many times before". For a summary of breeding in the UK by this species see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee-eaters_in_Britain. My own searches have found reports of the species in the British Isles in all months from April to December but none for January to March.

Hoopoe: The bird which has been reported in the Hamworthy area north of Poole Harbour nine times between Jan 23 to Mar 4 was seen again on Mar 10 and a different bird was seen in the Scillies on Mar 8 and 10.

Green Woodpecker: This species gets into the news on account of a report from a farm beside the River Adur not far north of the A27 at Shoreham. The report was dated Mar 12 and said .. "Whilst walking the dog on the farm my wife heard a knocking noise coming from the beehives, she thought something was trapped and went to investigate, she saw bees lying in the snow and then a green woodpecker that had made a fist sized hole in the hive and was feasting on the hibernating bees."

Sand Martin: These are now widespread and up to 25 were present at the Blashford Lakes on Mar 13

Swallow: Sightings so far have been restricted to Cornwall and the Scillies although one was seen in Poole Harbour on Mar 1

Waxwing: Only seven reports this week but four of the sites were in Hampshire (Romsey, Fareham, Chandlers Ford and Basingstoke) Biggest count was a flock of 44 in Exeter on Mar 12.

Robin: At least one pair were nest building in the Ferring area near Worthing on Mar 9.

Stonechat: The first report of song for the year came from Devon on Mar 13.

Fieldfare: Still being reported daily with a flock of 400 seen at Warnford in the Meon Valley on Mar 12.

Redwing: We usually hear flocks in subsong before they leave but so far I have only seen one report of a single bird singing in Devon on Mar 13

Willow Warbler: Chiffchaffs are now here in force but the earliest date for a Willow Warbler in Hampshire since 1954 has been Mar 15 and the average first date has been Mar 25 so a couple of reports this week (albeit from Devon and Cornwall) on Mar 13 and 14 were surprising.

Raven: Of local interest on Mar 12 one flew over the northern fringe of Leigh Park towards the Staunton Country Park and also this week I hear that a group of four have been seen regularly in the East Park are of Stansted during the past winter

Bullfinch: Unusually high numbers continue to be reported with one garden in the north of Chichester having 10 birds (5 male, 5 female) on Mar 11

Hawfinch: Eastleigh Lakeside Park still had Hawfinches present this week with one heard singing on both Mar 14 and 15.

Lapland Bunting: Cornwall still had flocks of these this week with a max of 40+ on Mar 12

Snow Bunting: The last report I have seen was of just one left at Treen (near Lands End) on Mar 13.

INSECTS Butterflies:

Brimstone: None this week but late news of four in Sussex on Mar 5, one at Petersfield on Mar 6 and one at Nore Barn (Emsworth) on Mar 9.

Speckled Wood: Another bit of late news that they have been seen in the Hollybank Woods earlier this year - maybe this was around Feb 23 when one was phtographed near Worthing.

PLANTS

Wood Anemone: 30 were in flower at a site beside the Hulbert Road in Waterlooville on Mar 12

Danish Scurvygrass: This had started general flowering beside the Petersfield Road in Havant and also in the Cowplain area of Waterlooville by Mar 12

Early Dog Violet: This was also starting its mass flowering at the east end of the Havant Cemetery by Mar 12.

Storks Bill: First flowers for the year seen by the Petersfield Road in Havant on Mar 12.

Blackthorn: Flowering generally by Mar 12.

Escaped cultivated form of Wood Forget-me-not (I call it Garden Forget-me-not): Several plants in full flower on the roadside of Pook Lane immediately north of the A27 seen on Mar 16.

OTHER WILDLIFE Newts: On Mar 12 Brian Banks told us on the RX website that some 250 Newts (a mixture of Common, Palmate and Great Crested) were already back in a woodland pond in the Rother Valley area north of Hastings and that the first Great Crested eggs had already been laid

Common Lizard: Also on Mar 12 Brian Banks was the first this year to report a recent sighting of a Common Lizard in the Northiam area north of Hastings Slow-worm: The first sighting of this species on Mar 10 came from Steve Copsey on the Three Amigos blog. It was found by chance in an unnamed country churchyard where he and Mark Cutts had stopped on their way back to the Portsmouth area after seeing the Pied-billed Grebe at the Ham Wall reserve in Somerset Lichens: Brian Fellows found two lichen species of the branched (fruticose) type this week on visits to the Hollybank woods north of Emsworth, both of them growing on an old Silver Birch tree in the Holly Lodge clearing. The first can be seen in his photo at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x831-hollybank-lichen-b- 13.03.13.jpg and is thought to be either Usnea subfloridana or Usnea cornuta but to separate these you need to see the base of the lichen's stem where it meets the tree. If the base of the stem is black the lichen is U. subfloridana but if the base has the same grey/green colour as the rest of the lichen then it is U. cornuta. The second species seems to be Ramalina farinacea and Brian's photo is at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x829-hollybank-lichen-a- 13.03.13.jpg These names have been 'plucked from the air' by going to http://www.irishlichens.ie/lichen-fruticose.html, finding photos on that page which appear to match the photos taken by Brian, and then clicking on the selected name to get more info to help identify the species. For those unfamiliar with the structure of lichens and the terminology used to describe them the Irish Lichens website has a useful Glossary page (http://www.irishlichens.ie/glossary.html) which not only has the expected index of terms but, at the foot of the page, useful photographic illustrations of Growth Types and Fruiting Bodies

Fungus: Also found and photographed by Brian Fellows on the same old Silver Birch as the above Lichen species was a yellowish fungus which appears to me to be of the resupinate type but Brian is convinced that it is Yellow Brain fungus so, knowing that photos can mislead, I am reserving judgement until I have seen the fungus with my own eyes. Brian's photo can be seen at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x829-yellow-brain-hollybank- 13.03.13.jpg

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAR 11 - 17 (WEEK 11 OF 2013)

Sat 16 Mar

Ibis still at Warblington This afternoon the sun came out and the morning rain moved away to the east though the southerly wind remained strong. I took advantage of the unexpected sunshine to walk to Warblington Farm and back confirming that the IBIS was still in its favourite field east of the new cemetery extension. As I neared the IBIS field I met two birders coming away and they told me the bird was still present and that they had also seen a Water Rail with it but I had no such luck. At first I could not even see the Ibis which was feeding inside the brambles forming the base of the hedge separating the field from the cemetery but it soon emerged to give good views. Also seen in the field were the regular Curlew, a Song Thrush and two Moorhens plus a single Chiffchaff working through one of the trees lining the public path above my head I continued walking east but cut across the fields to reach the shore at Conigar Point where I found the tide was still up to the seawall well over an hour after hightide so, despite keeping to the fields where possible, I got some water in my boots! The only birds on the water were some 50+ Wigeon and the best part of 1000 Brent in the shore field next but one to Pook Lane. After Pook Lane the shore path was free of water and so I pressed on to Langstone Pond to see if any Egrets were yet taking an interest in the nest trees but none were present and the Swans were equally uninterested in nesting yet (yesterday I saw one report from Devon of a pair of Swans next building). Later in my walk I did find ten Egrets together in a more sheltered pony field immediately north of Wade Court, leaving the pony field south of Wade Court to a large number of Teal. I did see one new flower during this walk - half a dozen flowering plants of what I call Garden Forget-me-not (the common cultivar and escape from Wood Forget- me-not) - these were growing beside Pook Lane north of the A27 where the path from Wade Court Road meets Pook Lane One final comment about the Ibis. It has now been at Warblington for a full two weeks but may soon feel the urge to move on and there is some evidence for this in the appearance on the RBA website of reports in the past few days of other Ibis in this country. When the local bird arrived there was only one other being reported in the UK (in Pembrokeshire) and I found this strange as at this time last year there were at least 30 birds in the UK at six different sites and last autumn a similar number arrived in the UK (I think from Spain) in early October but these birds soon vanished from sight (all except the Bickerley Common bird in the Avon valley). I am pretty sure the others did settle down in places where they were not spotted (as would have been the case at Warblington if the bird had chosen to settle in the next field north of the farm track where there is equally good wetland around a small pond) but this week the call of spring has brought them out of hiding and, in addition to the one in Pembrokeshire, there has been one in Anglesey and another flying over Coventry.

Thu 14 Mar Spoonbill and Red-breasted Goose at Farlington Marches With sunshine forecast for the whole day I set out to walk round Farlington Marshes during the high tide period with the hope of adding Spoonbill to my year list. I parked at Broadmarsh and walked along the cycle track from which I saw my first good birds in the shape of a couple of Ringed Plover but there were few other birds here other than the Brent, Wigeon, Teal, Redshank, Curlew and Grey Plover. In the reserve I soon added Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, and Black-tailed Godwit with Black-headed, Common and Herring Gull plus Meadow Pipit (silent) with Cetti's Warbler and Skylark in full song though the majority of the birds were on the Main Marsh around the Deeps The first thing that struck me when I reached the southern seawall was the restlessness of the Brent Geese. Every few minutes one flock or another would rise into the air with no obvious disturbance prompting them to do so, they would then make a semi-circular flight, usually with much chattering, before landing back on the marsh and I took this to be a sign of restlessness to be off on passage. Another thing that I noticed was the absence of Lapwing other than a few loners spread out over the area as if marking out their proposed breeding territories. Much more numerous were the Shelduck, Wigeon and Pintail with smaller numbers of Shoveler and just one Gadwall. Scanning these wildfowl from the eastern wall by the Deeps I had a brief glimpse of a white heron type bird which might have been a Little Egret except that it had its bill immersed in the water of one of the channels surrounding the Deeps and was sweeping it from side to side - this could only be the Spoonbill but it disappeared from sight before I could get my scope on it. Luckily it soon re-appeared and raised its bill to leave me in no doubt as to its identity, staying in view for long enough for me to call out to another birder who was looking out over the harbour with his back to the bird and for him to see it in his scope. As I prepared to move on one of the Brent flocks descended on the Deeps and started bathing and the birder to whose attention I had brought the Spoonbill returned the favour by pointing out the Red-breasted Goose was in the flock right in front of me and giving a full frontal view as it washed and preened. Snipe, Heron and Little Egret were among the last birds seen here bringing my day list to no more than 39 species (and my year list to 93 with the Spoonbill) but on the walk back to the car I enjoyed Gorse and Blackthorn in full flower

Tue 12 Mar Sunshine after snow Here in Havant warm sunshine melted most of the snow which had fallen yesterday but did nothing to take away the chill of a strong northerly wind. After lunch I felt it was worth taking a local walk to see what I could add to the sight of some 30 Fieldfare flying west over my garden in the morning - they were no doubt fleeing the extreme winter conditions still prevailing in East Sussex and Kent to say nothing of the Continent. In fact I saw nothing more of interest in the way of birds but I did notch up one further 'first for the year' flower in the form of several flowering plants of Storks Bill and also saw my 'first since January' Hedge Mustard plus much increased numbers of Early Dog Violet and Danish Scurvygrass.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAR 4 - 10 (WEEK 10 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: More than 300 Red-throated were heading east past Dungeness on both Mar 2 and 6 with smaller numbers leaving their winter quarters on other days. Black-throated were also seen in much smaller numbers (max 3 together) heading east along the Sussex coast and only 3 were to be seen in Mounts Bay (Cornwall) on Mar 8. Three Great Northern were still resting on the sea at Selsey Bill on Mar 6 with another 6 in St Austell Bay (Cornwall) on Mar 8. One White- billed was still in the Highland area of Scotland on Mar 4. Grebes: 370 Great Crested were still in Rye Bay on Mar 6 with 705 on the Netherlands coast on Mar 4. On Mar 2 one Red-necked was off the Lymington shore and on Mar 3 singles were off both Durlston in Dorset and Goring in Sussex. There were more then 9 Slavonian off Pagham Harbour on Mar 2 but only 2 were seen from Selsey on Mar 5 and on Mar 8 3 off the Worthing area were probably on their way east though there were still 3 in Hayling Bay on Mar 9. Black-necked were still present in good numbers with 15 off the Hayling Oysterbeds on Mar 5 and Cornwall still had 9 in Mounts Bay on Mar 8. White Stork: None in the Uk but a peak total of 202 at 15 Belgian sites on Mar 5 in a string of 'remarkable' reports there from Mar 4 to 7 show a return of nesting birds with a chance of some overshooting and reaching us.

Glossy Ibis: The Warblington bird has not been reported since Mar 8 but that may well be that it is no longer newsworthy

Spoonbill: These are now moving to breeding areas bringing 37 to the Somme estuary in northern France on Mar 5 and ones and twos to several southern English sites including Farlington Marshes and Titchfield Haven plus Lodmoor in Dorset

Bewick's Swan: A total of 1250 at 12 Netherlands sites on Mar 3 probably marks a major departure but 2 were still at the Testwood Lakes near Southampton on Mar 8 with another two at the Longham Lakes (Bournemeouth) that day.

Whooper Swan: No reports since Mar 6 and then the only count came from Germany suggesting that these have all left the UK. Geese: Mar 3 seems to have been the day on which the majority of most wintering geese were last seen. Counts recorded on Trektellen that day were 3893 Tundra Bean Geese, 2344 Pink-foot, 6098 White-front and 5298 Greylag. Dark-bellied Brent: These continue to head east with 292 passing Dungeness on Mar 4, 1800 more passing on Mar 5, 241 on the French Normandie coast on Mar 6 with 497 there on Mar 7, 170 at Rye Harbour on Mar 8 increasing to 1480 there on Mar 9 when another 1150 were moving along the French coast at Cap Gris- nez.

Red-breasted Goose: Still at Farlington Marshes on Mar 9 though not reported so far on Mar 10

Mandarin Duck: The sudden arrival of four of these pretty birds at a garden pond at Racton in the Ems Valley this week reminded me of my surprise when last autumn I learnt of a feral population of 80 or more birds at Hembury woods in south devon. Previously I was only aware of large feral populations in Surrey (Virginia Water) and the Forest of Dean but if you go to https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/factsheet/factsheet.cfm?specie sId=102 you will see a distribution map indicating the 10Km Squares in which the species has been recorded (almost everywhere in Britain from Lands End to John O'Groats) and will also discover that the spread of this non-native species is of little concern to DEFRA since the only known impact of these duck on other wildlife is that they compete for tree hole nest sites with Jackdaws and Grey Squirrels. Other relevant factors contributing to their spread are their easy availability for purchase at around £50 a pair and the fact that no one bothers to shoot them as their flesh tastes horrible. The four which arrived at Racton this week were probably roaming the countryside looking for nesting sites for the coming spring but I doubt they will stay in the Ems Valley as I gather that they like small slow-running streams with mature trees overhanging. Wigeon: The presence of 500 at Christchurch Harbour on Mar 2 was attributed to 'fast falling water levels driving them from the Avon valley' confirming the reason for the recent return to coastal mud of Black-tailed Godwits from similar inland wetlands. Green-winged Teal: The Lymington shore bird was still present on the Fishtail Lagoon at Pennington on Mar 9

Pintail: As with Wigeon many of these have recently left the Avon valley and that may be the reason for the arrival of 8 at the mouth of the Warblington Farm stream between Langstone and Emsworth on Mar 8

Garganey: No further arrivals reported in southern England since the pair at Weir Wood reservoir in East Sussex on Feb 16 but there have been two further arrivals in the Netherlands - a pair on Feb 28 and a single bird this week on Mar 4.

Shoveler: There were still 400 on the Blashford Lakes near Ringwood on Mar 4 but an indication that many will soon leave us came from a report of 30 fying east past Dungeness on Mar 4 (along with 32 Pintail) Scaup: The pair were still present on the Budds Fam pools in Havant on Mar 9 but a birder looking for them on Mar 10 could only find the female. In Dorset the 9 birds still present at the Abbotsbury Swannery on Mar 8 were down to 8 on Mar 9 (all three Long-tailed Duck were still there on Mar 9. Smew: An indication that these are leaving their winter quarters came from a report of 29 at a German site on Mar 6 but surprisingly the two drakes and one female were still at the Roadford reservoir in Devon (west of Dartmoor) on Mar 7 and the single redhead was still at the Longham Lakes (Bournemouth) on Mar 9.

Black Kite: The first mention of this species for this year was an RBA report of one at the Bough Beech reserve in Kent on Mar 4. This is a summer visitor to northern Europe but hardly qualifies for listing as one of our summer visitors to England.

Goshawk: On Mar 4 Lee Evans visited Hampshire and found a total of 9 Goshawks at two sites - no doubt there will soon be a nest-cam available for everyone to watch these birds on at least one of their nests.

Osprey: Last week I wrote of seeing a man-made Osprey nest on Thorney Island and wondering if the two model Ospreys fixed in the nest were likely to attract real Ospreys to make use of the nest. My guess was that they would be more of a deterrent than an attraction but since then I have learnt that Roy Dennis, the leading Osprey expert in Britain, had recommended the inclusion of the models as an attraction. For more on this subject see http://www.roydennis.org/animals/raptors/osprey/nest-building/

Peregrine: On Mar 4 the regular pair which nest on Chichester Cathedral were seen food-passing and mating.

Common Crane: Huge numbers have been returning to the Low Countries this week. On Mar 5 the reports peaked with a potential total of 65728 birds at 45 sites in the Netherlands.

Little Ringed Plover: The first of these summer migrants was seen in the Netherlands on Mar 4 and one reached England at Rye Harbour on Mar 7 when another was seen on the beach at Hastings.

Black-tailed Godwit: The drying up of inland wetlands (see entry for Wigeon above) has caused the Godwits to return to the coast and Brian Fellows discovered this on Mar 4 when he came on a flock of 252 birds feeding on mud just west of Langstone Bridge (to Hayling Island) replacing the typical flocks of no more than 20 birds we have been finding in Langstone and Chichester Harbours recently.

Whimbrel: Quite a few have wintered along the south coast but with no more than 2 being seen at any one site so a report of 7 at a Netherlands site on Mar 6 suggests that migrants are beginning to arrive.

Common Sandpiper: A report of one on the beach at Folkestone (where there have been no wintering birds) on Mar 4 suggests a migrant arrival.

Arctic Skua: I had not come across any reports of this species from Jan 5 until Mar 3 when three flew east past Selsey Bill and this suggests that these birds think it is time to return after their winter elsewhere.

Great Skua: One flying east past Beachy Head on Mar 3, the first anywhere since Feb 16, was similarly an indication that spring passage has started and this was borne out by further sightings this week at Dungeness and Folkestone.

Med Gull: On Mar 4 someone counted 62 at the Hayling Oysterbeds (with 65+ there nest day) and by Mar 9 there were 65 at Rye Harbour.

Little Gull: Spring passage of this species seems to have started on Mar 7 when 8 were off Dungeness (and on Mar 8 one was seen off Warblington in Chichester Harbour) before a report on Mar 9 of 3865 off Cap Gris-Nez.

Lesser Blackback Gull: There have been signs of spring passage fro some time (including one stpping off at the Emsworth Slipper Mill Pond on Mar 1) but a total of 1086 at four Netherlands sites on Mar 3 confirms that they are on their way.

Kittiwake: On Mar 2 more than 80 were seen back on nest ledges at Orcombe Point in Devon and on Mar 4 a few were seen on the cliffs at Seaford Head in Sussex.

Sandwich Tern: Several reports this week left no doubt that migrants have started to arrive. I suspect that the five birds which arrived at Rye Harbour (where none had been wintering) on Feb 16 were migrants but a count of 12 flying east at Selsey Bill on Mar 6 (more than had been wintering in that area) and a count of 241 at Cap Gris-nez on Mar 9 proved the point.

Puffin: There had been a couple of odd sightings at Warsash and Selsey Bill on Feb 2 and 3 but reports from Durlston and Portland Bill on Mar 1 and 9 show that the species is starting to head back to land for breeding.

Tawny Owl: A birder in Cornwall rigged a camera to detect activity in his garden at night and found that his pond was being visited by a Tawny Owl catching the Frogs coming to breed.

Hoopoe: A bird which had been seen in the Poole area of Dorset on eith days between Jan 23 and Feb 5 was spotted again on Mar 4.

Sand Martin: The first arrived on Mar 7 with 2 sightings in Dorset and 3 in Cornwall. More were seen at four sites in Cornwall on Mar 8 and one was at Fleet Pond in Hampshire on Mar 9.

Swallow: Just one so far at Helston in Cornwall on Mar 5

House Martin: Also just one which got as far as Pembrokeshire in Wales before being spotted on Mar 6.

White Wagtail: The first to be identified among the spring passage of Wagtails in this country was at Portland Bill on Mar 4 and on that same day one was seen at Warblington Farm in Havant by Ibis watchers. Since then others have been seen along the south coast from the Scillies and Cornwall to Kent.

Waxwing: Still 14 reports this week with up to 34 seen at the Mercer's Way site in Romsey on Mar 9.

Dipper: Although these have been found in Hampshire in some years I think they are very rare in Sussex so Sussex birders were very frustrated when they read on the 'WildaboutBritain' website an entry for Mar 4 saying .. "I was walking with a couple of friends yesterday in N.W.Sussex. Our route took us to an old Mill, somewhat off the beaten track. The mill, no longer in use, is fed from a large lake. The water leaves the lake and flows down, via a waterfall into a steep-sided stream. The three of us, almost as one, were amazed by the sight of a Dipper going about its normal activities among the rocks of the stream below. It stayed in good close sight for about a minute." .. This sounds a very plausible sighting but so far no one else has been able to locate the bird!

Wheatear: On Mar 5 RBA announced the arrival of the first Wheatears of the year at five sites of which one was Dawlish Warren in Devon and another was Weir Wood in Sussex. On Mar 6 one was seen in Cornwall where another turned up on Mar 8. Mar 9 brought the first to Portland, to Exmouth in Devon, and to Ferring in West Sussex but none have yet reached Hampshire.

Fieldfare: A flock of 330 was seen at Fleet in Hampshire on Mar 9 so daily sightings are not yet over.

Redwing: Just one seen at Nutbourne (east of Emsworth) on Mar 9 though I am sure there are plenty still with us.

Chiff Chaff: Portland reported the first migrant arrivals (seen flying in off the sea) on Mar 6 and a single bird was seen to fly in off the sea at Peacehaven near Brighton on Mar 7 but I am sure these are not the only arrivals.

Hooded Crow: One was seen at Sennen near Lands End on Mar 7, maybe a stray from the continental population or maybe a bird returning to our northern population after a winter holiday in the south.

Chaffinch: Large numbers are now arriving from the continent where a flock of 2078 were reported at a Netherlands site on Mar 7.

Common Rosefinch: The bird that has been in a private garden in Broadstone (north of Poole Harbour in Dorset) since Jan 28 was still there on Mar 5.

INSECTS Butterflies:

Brimstone: A mass emergence on Mar 5 brought reports from 17 different sites including a total of around 22 seen on Portsdown. Late news also arrived of a sighting at West Wellow near Romsey on Feb 18 and another at Newtown on the Isle of Wight on Feb 19.

Small White: A single insect seen at Winchester on Mar 5 (but there had been a report from Christchurch in Dorset of one 'fresly emerged from compost' on Jan 9 - I suspect that the compost heated up and gave the insect a wrong expression of the outside temperature!).

Red Admiral: Singles were seen in the Fleet area on Mar 4 and on Portsdown Hill on Mar 5 (as the Hampshire Butterfly Site had not been updated for a long time there was also late news of eight other sightings between Feb 14 and 18).

Small Tortoiseshell: One seen at Rye Harbour on Mar 3, three sightings on Mar 5 (Folkestone, East Sussex and West Sussex) plus two on Mar 6 (north Kent and Folkestone) plus late news on the Hampshire site of five sightings between Feb Feb 16 and 19.

Comma: Ten reports this week, seven of them on Mar 5 plus one late report of one in the Fleet area on Feb 19.

Other Insects Caddisfly: One at Durlston on Mar 6 - came to moth light Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris): Mar 4 brought active specimens to two different gardens in Emsworth

PLANTS Common Yew: Yielding dense clouds of pollen when touched in Havant cemetery on Mar 6

Marsh Marigold: First of the normal spring flowers at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on Mar 6

Shepherd's Purse: I have not seen this very common species flowering since Jan 30 until Mar 8

Early Dog Violet: Mass flowering in Havant Cemetery had started on Mar 6

Grey Poplar: An old and traditionally early flowering tree in Wade Court Road (Havant) had started unfurling its catkins on Mar 4

Ivy Leaved Speedwell: Although I had found flower buds as early as Feb 2 these remained unopen buds until Mar 6 when I came on plants in full flower in Havant and I see they had also started to flower properly in Emsworth on Mar 8.

Coltsfoot: The Havant Wildlife group found the first flowers for my local area on Mar 2 at the Chichester Lakes and I found my first beside the Hayling Coastal Path on Mar 5 (The first I know of were flowering on the shore of Rye Bay on Feb 16)

OTHER WILDLIFE Bats: On Mar 5 Nik Knight walked the external circuit of the Langstone Wade Court area at dusk and encountered at least three species - the two common species of Pipistrelle and one of the Myotis group (as he heard it at Langstone Pond it was probably a Daubenton's (Myotis daubentoni). I think he must have been carrying his bat detector to distinguish the Sporano (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) from the Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) as the only difference you can use to distinguish the two species in flight is the frequency on which they emit their calls. I see that it was not until 1999 that the experts agreed that they were two different species but if you want to know more about them go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soprano_pipistrelle or to http://www.arkive.org/pipistrelle-bats/pipistrellus-pipistrellus-and-pipistrellus- pygmaeus/. Nik was less certain about the identity of the Myotis species of which five are found in the UK - Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri); Mouse eared bat (Myotis myotis); Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteini); Whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus) as well as Daubenton's which I think is the most likely though the rare Bechstein's has been found in the Havant area near the Southleigh Forest (see http://www.arkive.org/bechsteins-bat/myotis-bechsteinii/ which has a very photogenic look for a part in a film like The Lord of the Rings. A more likely alternative to Daubenton's would be the Natterer's Bat which you can learn about at http://www.arkive.org/natterers-bat/myotis-nattereri/. In checking the possible Myotis species I discovered that there is another rare species called the Pond Bat (Myotis dasycneme)which is a very rare vagrant from the near continent and in investigating this I opened up a list of 'other British Bats' which I had never heard of at http://www.jwaller.co.uk/batgroup/other_british_bats.asp which includes another Pipistrelle species (Kuhl's) and the Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) which is thought to have travelled here from North America on a ship.

Common Frog: Three more reports of 'first spawn' from Farlington Marshes on Mar 2, from Folkestone on Mar 5 and from Reculver in north Kent on Mar 7. A different sort of report comes from Cornwall on Mar 5 from a birder who installed a camera trap to catch night-time visitors to his garden pond and discovered a Tawny Owl coming to catch Frogs.

Newts: After last week's warning that Blackbirds will catch and eat Newts this week the Portland bird news has photos of both Heron (not unexpected) and Song Thrush with Newts. For the latter go to http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/aa_latestnews.htm and scroll down to the photos in the diary entry for Mar 8.

Deer: Deer culling has been in the news this week and putting 'Deer Cull' into Google will bring you an avalance of view points from the 'cuddly animal lovers' who have not had their health severely impaired by Lyme disease or their garden Roses devoured by animals who cannot find food out in the countryside because it has all been eaten by other deer, through the 'I'll lose my job' fear from Gamekeepers, and the 'Deer are responsible for the decline in Nightingale numbers' from ornithologists to the 'Venison is vital to feed the growing human population'. My personal view is that where any species has no natural predators it's population will grow to a point where it not only runs out of food and habitat but it severely impinges on the food and habitat of other species which share its ecological needs and so controlled and humane culling by humans is vital in the interests of all species dependent on the environment in which we live. I only wish that the human population could be managed in a more scientific way than by leaving it to disease and asteroid strikes - what we need is an intelligent 'god' to manage our planet as if it was his prized garden and not just a miniscule speck in his vast cosmos (but that would mean taking a view that 'our species' and 'our planet' are to be favoured above others). Just one thing that I have learnt from all this is that Lyme disease is named for Lyme, Connecticut, a town where, in 1975, scientists discovered that an outbreak of juvenile arthritis cases was actually caused by a tick-borne infection. Deer culling is by no means new and has been practiced in the UK for many years and if you have £20 to spare go to http://www.bds.org.uk/product603.html to purchase a book called 'Deer Management in the UK' promoted by the British Deer Society WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR MAR 4 - 10 (WEEK 10 OF 2013)

Sat 9 Mar

More Migrant arrivals

Here are some additions to yesterday's table of migrant arrivals

** MIGRANT ARRIVALS ** SPECIES DATE LOCATION COMMENT Swallow Mar 5 Helston in Cornwall Sand Martin Mar 7 Dorset-Radipole & Cornwall-Wadebridge Five more on Mar 8 Sand Martin Mar 9 Hampshire-Fleet Pond House Martin Mar 6 Pembrokeshire Just one Fri 8 Mar Blackbird song and Cherry Laurel flowers in Havant After prolonged light rain all day it had ceased by 5pm so I took a short walk around Havant in the warm, windless evening air. The first species that went on my notepad was Cherry Laurel when I found several open flowers on the white 'candles' which have been visible for some time, and shortly after that I heard the first of several Blackbirds in full song (I noticed one of them singing from a branch near the top of a tree, then flying up to try to perch on the topmost twig - the twig would not take the bird's weight but the feeling of being 'on top of the world' was clearly demonstrated). Full, regular Blackbird song usually begins each year in the evenings and I think this evening could well be the first such occasion this year (we'll have to see the effect of much colder air next week). With nothing much else to report I thought people might be interested in the arrival of our summar migrants so here is a table of the reports which I have picked up from the internet to date ** MIGRANT ARRIVALS ** SPECIES DATE LOCATION COMMENT Wheatear Jan 27 Poole Harbour Dubious report - no confirmation Wheatear Mar 5 Weir Wood nr Crowborough Genuine first Wheatear Mar 7 French Normandie coast Not here yet! Garganey Feb 16 Weir Wood No reason to doubt this despite no further reports Garganey Feb 28 Netherlands 2 birds have reached our latitude Garganey Mar 4 Netherlands Single bird Sandwich Tern Feb 16 Rye Harbour First there where none wintered Sandwich Tern Feb 18 Devon Exmouth No previous wintering birds Sandwich Tern Feb 20 Dungeness 3 birds flew east Sandwich Tern Mar 3 Selsey Bill 12 birds east exceeds wintering total Ring Ouzel Feb 23 Cornwall St Ives Male - sounds good Osprey Feb 27 Lands End Flew over heading north Chiff Chaff Mar 6 Portland Bill Arrivals in off the sea Little Ringed Plover Mar 7 Rye Harbour First in UK Little Ringed Plover Mar 4 Netherlands Supporting evidence of arrival Wed 6 Mar Signs of spring in Havant Cemetery Taking a roundabout route to the shops this morning I found my first Ivy-leaved Speedwell showing flowers that caught my eye from a distance (those that I have seen up to now have all required me to search among the leaves and to find a few buds rather than open flowers) at the junction of Eastern Road and New Lane, and inside the cemetery the mass flowering of Early Dog Violets had started at the east end while elsewhere any Yew tree which I touched gave off a really dense cloud of pollen. I also found fresh leaves emerging on the Duke of Argyll's Teaplant Back at home a check on the internet showed me that Brian Fellows had asked Ed Rowsell (Chichester Harbour Conservancy's Conservation Officer) about the reasoning behind the inclusion of plastic Osprey models in the man-made Osprey nest on the Thornham Marshes 'landing lights' (see my diary entry for Monday of this week) and Ed had said that this was done on the advice of Roy Dennis who is probably the UK's most experienced expert on Ospreys. If you are not already familiar with his work go to http://www.roydennis.org/animals/raptors/osprey/nest- building/. Ed also pointed out that I had not been very observant when I visited the Thornham Marshes site as the nest that I commented on is only one of two artificial nests there. I had been a little surprised to find the nest nearer to me than I remembered seeing it last year and I obviously failed to scan the area for the other nest. I certainly wish the project well. One other thing that I found today which may be of interest to some is that the Chichester Harbour Conservancy has a page in its website with the photos and job titles of all its staff - see http://www.conservancy.co.uk/page/people/462/ Tue 5 Mar First Coltsfoot flowers out on Hayling Island A moderate southerly wind and warm spring-like air made it possible that the first Wheatears of the year would be arriving on the Hayling shore this morning, maybe with the first Sand Martins collecting insects over the Sinah Gravel Pit lake, so I got on my bike and headed down the Hayling Billy Line. The ride was enjoyable but there were no new birds to be seen. Another disappointment was that the grass of the bus turn-round roundabout at the Ferry Inn had no Early Forget-me-not (last year I found a good show here on Mar 12) and I found no other botanic excitment here other than a few plants of Common Whitlowgrass. The best finds here were the sound of prolonged Skylark song and the sight of a Kestrel hovering over the Golf Course. The best thing seen today came as I was nearing the Oysterbeds on my way home, just after passing the Pill Box guarding the path to West Lane. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a bright yellow flower looking like a Dandelion but somehow different enough to get me off my bike and to walk back for a close look which showed me the smaller compact yellow disk of my first Coltsfoot, and the id was confirmed by the multiple bracts enclosing the stem and giving the impression, if you imagined the stem inverted with the flower flat on the ground, of the "feathers" around the foreleg of a shire horse (from which the association of the name Coltsfoot with a real horse is derived). Just three of these flowers were out, making up for their absence at the Oysterbeds carpark which I had already checked A little further up the track I was surprised to see a Shoveler (in the pond on the landward side of the track) though a good show of smart Med Gulls at the Oysterbeds was not unexpected, nor was the presence of one Herring Gull though I was not expecting the single Common Gull which was still present. Chris Cockburn, keeping a watchful eye on the scene (he had already seen one marauding Fox on the nest island) said that he would welcome a breeding pair of Common Gulls which have been extending their breeding range down the east coast and along the south coast The biggest surprise of the day came when I was passing 'Texaco Bay' (the area between the old rail bridge and Langstone Bridge) where a large assemblage of Black-tailed Godwits caught my eye. My rough count was just over 200 and I assume their presence indicated a masive return from the inland wetlands where they have been since mid-October. Later I discovered that Brian Fellows had seen this same flock (or a larger version of it with over 250 birds) yesterday The only other noteworthy observation before reaching home was my first sight of the fully extended woolly catkins on the tall old Grey Poplar tree growing beside Wade Court Road opposite North Close. Mon 4 Mar Why put plastic Ospreys in man-made Osprey nests? When writing my Weekly Summary yesterday I was puzzled as to how to describe the photo of two Ospreys in the artificial Osprey nest built on one of the old landing light poles at Thornham Marshes on Thorney Island. The photo had been taken on Mar 2 by Richard Fairbank when visiting Thorney to see the Red- breasted Goose and while I was already familiar with the construction of the nest I was not aware that plastic Ospreys had been added to it. As I also had news from Cornwall that the first of this summer's visiting Ospreys had flown north over the Lands End area on Feb 27 it was possible that others had arrived at Thorney Island by Mar 2 so I could not dismiss that possibility out of hand (and the fact that there had been no publicity about their arrival could be a result of the general embargo on news about rare breeding birds and their nests). To settle the problem I headed for Thorney Island in this morning's sunshine and immediately saw that the birds in the nest were lifeless models. I was still left with another puzzle - what purpose were these plastic birds intended to achieve? I could understand and applaud the construction of the artificial nest which would almost certainly catch the keen eye of any Osprey visiting the area as several have done each year recently and it might well attract a pair to use the nest. But how would the Osprey react to the plastic models? They would certainly detract from rather than attract to the birds deciding to use the site - the live Osprey would be unlikely to be deceived by the plastic birds and see them as rivals needing to be fought and driven away but they would be seen as unwanted clutter and there would be no way in which they could be easily evicted (the models must be firmly fixed if they are not to be blown away by strong winds). So what purpose were these models intended to achieve? As I see it their only use is to advertise to passing humans the good intentions of the creators of the nest despite detracting from the attractiveness of the nest to the Ospreys. The first two people I spoke to agreed with me that they could not see the value of the models and I am sorry I did not get an opinion from the third person who I met before he had seen the nest. When I asked him if he was aware of the nest he told me he had not but that he was interested in the subject as he had only just returned to the UK from the Persian Gulf where he had been advising on the construction of artificial Osprey nests at Abu dhabi and that this was his 'specialist subject'... Earlier in my trip I had passed the Emsworth rookery in trees behind the Council Flats across Victoria Road from Emsworth Primary School. A quick visit to the area behind the flats showed little activity by the Rooks (most of which I had seen earlier taking an interest in the back garden on a Selangor Avenue house) and most of the seven nests that I could see were at the earliest stages of construction (or perhaps just remnants of last year's nests). After that I did not linger in Brook Meadow but pressed on to Thorney Island where, after visiting the Thornham Marshes, I returned to the west end of the Little and Great Deeps where I enjoyed my first prolonged Skylark song and saw lots of Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall and Tufted Duck but nothing unusual. Heading back through Emsworth I rode down Warblington Road to Nore Barn where the regular Spotted Redshank was still present. In the west end of the wood I found the patch of variant Violets which Brian Fellows had photographed last Thursday and was surprised to see no sign of the normal Sweet Violets on the northern fringe of the wood. Also missing were the Hairy Garlic leaves further east along the northern path and the leaves of the English Scurvygrass on the Saltings east of the wood - it seems that we are already suffering from lack of rain and are in need of the promised moisture later this week. With the tide low I followed the shore back to Langstone, finding a pair of Pintail among the Brent, Shelduck and Wigeon enjoying the less salty water of the Warblington Farm stream outflow. At Langstone Pond I could see no evidence that the Swans had started nest building nor that the single Egret that was present was there with an eye to nesting. Riding back up Wade Lane and Wade Court Road I added Cow Parsley to this weeks flowering plants (also noting that the Winter Heliotrope flowering is very nearly over) before I had my first sight of unfurling woolly catkins on the tall old Grey Poplar tree near the North Close road.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR FEB 25 - MAR 3 (WEEK 09 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: No large numbers this week (max 79 Red-throated east off Hastings) but one Black-throated in a group of more than 15 at Portscatho in Cornwall on Feb 28 was said to be in near to full summer plumage. On Feb 23 the Pacific Diver was seen again. Grebes: The Pied-billed Grebe which arrived at Ham Wall in Somerset on Feb 16 was still there on Feb 28 and there were still 42 Great Crested in Southampton Water off Weston on Mar 1. Single Red-necked were seen during the week off Dungeness, passing Worthing, in Portland Harbour, at Portscatho (near Falmouth in Cornwall), and two at The Hague in the Netherlands. Slavonian were seen at eight sites from West Sussex to the Scillies with a max count of 8 in Portland Harbour (and four in the LangstoneHarbour/Haylng Bay area). Langstone Harbour also had up to 19 Black-necked but the peaks were 29 in Portland Harbour and 25 in Carrick Roads at Falmouth. Bittern: Still present at 7 sites.

Great White Egret: Still at least two at Dungeness with others at Rye Harbour and Folkestone.

Glossy Ibis: Still being seen daily up to Mar 2 at Warblington between Havant and Emsworth) where it first appeared on Feb 23

Spoonbill: Still up to 13 in Poole Harbour with just two other singles in Hampshire (mouth of Beaulieu River) and Cornwall (Wadebridge).

Mute Swan: Now getting close to nesting with prolonged aggression seen at an Emsworth nest site on Mar 1

Bewick's Swan: A report of 806 at a Netherlands site on Feb 18 suggested a mass exodus from winter sites but there were still 263 to be seen in the Netherlands on Mar 2

Geese: Our winter visitor species are all showing signs of gathering at Netherlands sites prior to departure. Totals have been 1369 Tundra Bean Geese on Mar 2, 10026 Whitefronts on Mar 1, and 11435 Barnacles on Feb 28.

Red-breasted Goose: I see that the lack of reports of the bird on Thorney Island between Feb 2 and 24 was because Barry Collins was enjoying a holiday in Spain. For the latest sighting and pictures by Richard Fairbank on Mar 2 see http://birdingneversleeps.blogspot.co.uk/

Green Winged Teal: On Feb 26 Marc Mooody is said to have seen one on the Fishtail Lagoon at Pennington (Lymington) and this bird may have flown to Poole Harbour where one was seen on Mar 1. In Cornwall the bird which had been seen for some time at Torpoint was there again on Mar 27

Garganey: A secondhand report of a male at Weir Wood reservoir on Feb 16 is the only tenuous hint that these migrants have started to arrive.

Ferruginous Duck: One was reported at the Blashford lakes near Ringwood in Hampshire on Feb 24 but seems to have flown on to Somerset where one was reported at the Ham Wall site on Feb 2

Scaup: The long staying group of 9 at the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset was still present on Mar 1 with a tenth hybrid bird which arrived there on Feb 25. Here in Havant the pair which arrived on the Budds Farm pools on Feb 16 (after the two birds at the nearby Oysterbeds ceased to be reported after Feb 7) was still to be seen on Mar 1.

Smew: One was still on the Longham Lakes at Bournemouth on Mar 1 and the two drakes at the Roadford Reservoir (west of Dartmoor) were still seen on Mar 2 Osprey: The year's first report of a returning bird is of one flying north over St Buryan on the road from Penzance to Lands End in Cornwall on Feb 27. More exciting but less certain is the possibility that a pair have returned to Thorney Island and taken up residence in the man made nest on one of the old aircraft landing light poles at the Thornham Marshes - see Richard Fairbank's blog at http://birdingneversleeps.blogspot.co.uk/ in which Richard includes a photo (see http://1.bp.blogspot.com/- _siTWLaD2WQ/UTJiB3eZekI/AAAAAAAAJpk/zsFqt7Io6Ak/s400/Thorney+P3020 085.JPG ) with the caption "Thorney beats Weir Wood to the first Sussex Osprey for 2013". The photo seems to show a pair of Osprey snuggling together in the nest but they could be dummies put there with the intention of catching the eye of a passing real Osprey (but would that not be self-defeating, causing the real Osprey to think the site was already occupied and so pass on - and if it did fly down to claim the nest what would if do with the dummies? Golden Eagle: In Jan 2011 I read of a Golden Eagle apparently living wild in the area of Ashburnham Place (not far west of Battle in the Hastings area) which had apparely been there for up to three years. In Feb and Mar of that year there were several sightings of a 'wide ranging Golden Eagle' in Cornwall. In July 2011 came another sighting of a Golden Eagle flying alongside a microlight aircraft over Paddock Wood in Kent. Now, on Feb 25 2013, a Golden Eagle is reported to have been seen to take off from an Oak tree on farm land at Newick near Haywards Heath and this report has the added comment that the same bird had been seen on the same tree for two days last summer.

Water Rail: The two most common reasons why Water Rails are seen out in the open are (1) hard frost, making it impossible to find food within the hidden areas that the Rail is familiar with and (2) unfamiliarity with the local habitat, nearly always meaning that the bird has flown into the area overnight and has not yet found where it can find food without showing itself in the open - an overnight flight also means that (a) the bird is more hungry than usual and (b) it has forfeited the chance to hunt for food and explore the area under cover of darkness (there is a third reason which was demonstrated at Pulborough Brooks last year when one of the wardens 'trained' one of the rails to appear regularly in the open on grass outside the visitor centre window by laying a trail of food for it to the desired view point). Currently there is no hard frost but we are in the period during which the Rails are moving back from winter quarters to breeding sites so most of the birds being seen have probably flown in there overnight and are eager to find food regardless of possible danger from exposing themselves. On Mar 2 when Richard Fairbank was at Warblington watching the Ibis he also saw two Water Rails and a Fox out in the open while there have been up to three Rails seen at Baffins Pond in Portsmouth plus several sightings at Brook Meadow in Emsworth.

Woodcock: The first report to state that it was of a bird 'roding' came on Feb 26 from Cadman's Pool near Fritham in the New Forest

Common Gull: Last week I said that I thought the majority of out winter visitors had already left but news of 70 still at Durlston on Mar 1 shows that we have not seen the last of them.

Lesser Blackback Gull: Spring passage brought more than 25 to the Exe estuary in Devon on Feb 27, 12 to Pett Level (Rye Bay) on Mar 1, and even one of the Baltic (fuscus) race with its smart black wings and yellow legs to Emsworth on Mar 1

Great Blackback: On Feb 22 a pair were back at the nest site they used last year on the raft in the Emsworth Slipper Mill Pond but they have not yet settled in there

White Wagtail: The first for this year was seen in the Scillies on Feb 24 and the first migrant 'alba wagtail' (assumed to be a continental white bird) arrived at Portland from the south on Mar 1

Waxwing: Still being seen at 11 sites this week with a peak of 39 at the Romsey Mercer's Way site and two birds seen flying north from south Hayling on Mar 2

Black Redstart: Following the first report of spring song from Cornwall on Feb 12 another was singing at Seaford in Sussex on Feb 21

Stonechat: The first sign of spring passage was reported by Portland on Feb 28 when 9 birds arrived there

Ring Ouzel: These do sometimes overwinter and there were late sightings in the Scillies and at The Lizard in Cornwall on Nov 18 last year but the species has not been mentioned since then until Feb 23 when a male was seen at St Ives in north Cornwall so I assume that is the first spring migrant arrival.

Blackbird: Song was heard at Durlston on Jan 15 and in Emsworth on Jan 17, then again at Durlston on Feb 3. More recently song was heard in both Emsworth and Havant on Feb 25 and again at Emsworth on Feb 28.

Fieldfare: Mar 1 brought a surge of reports with 600 in the Kent Stour Valley and more than 200 both on the Sussex Downs (Ditchling Beacon) and in the Pagham area with another 50 at Farley Mount near Winchester. Redwing: Also six widespread reports of these on Mar 1 with 65 at Rye Harbour on Mar 2

Lesser Whitethroat: One was seen in a Worthing garden on Feb 16, staying around to at least Feb 23 - I suspect this had overwintered here rather than being an early migrant. The 'earliest ever' date for migrants giving in the Sussex Bird Report is Apr 4.

Blackcap: Overwintering birds are now starting to sing strongly - one at Fawley in the New Forest sang continuously for 20 minutes on Feb 28 (others have been heard intermittently since Jan 26)

Chiffchaff: There have now been three reports mentioning song since Feb 9

Firecrest: Just one report of song so far - at the Lower Test reserve on Feb 28

Long-tailed Tit: One seen at Emsworth on Mar 1 collecting lichen for the outer camouflage of its nest implying that the nest was more or less complete

Tree Creeper: First report of song for the year comes from the Kent Stour Valley on Feb 2

Penduline Tit: The single female that has been in the Kent Stour Valley since Jan 5 was still present on Mar 1

Great Grey Shrike: The only two birds that have been regularly reported this winter (other than a one day appearance on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall on Jan 12) have been in the Bishops Dyke to Denny Wood area of the New Forest and the Wyke Down/Sixpenny Handley area of Dorset and both were still present on Mar 1 Raven: Following up a report on Feb 9 by Richard Jones (Portsmouth City's warden for Portsdown Hill) of a pair of Ravens taking an interest in the Paulsgrove Chalkpit area, and later of them nestbuilding, I visited the area on Feb 28 and found one bird sitting on a nest built on the topmost arm of an electricity pylon standing at the eastern end of the base of the pit (with the nest at eyelevel to an observer on the hill at the top of the pit) and a second bird keeping a watchful eye on the nest from a perch on the cliff face where it could be seen at no more than 20 metres from the observer on the cliff top public path.

Tree Sparrow: Despite a steep decline in their numbers in southern England they have by no means become extinct here. During 2012 I recorded 22 reports from Kent including counts of betwen 20 and 60 birds at Dungeness between Aug 26 and Sep 4 (indicating a substantial inflow from the continent at the end of the breeding season?) and 15 sightings from Reculver on the north coast, Sandwich Bay, Folkestone and Dungeness in the Sep to Feb period. In East Sussex small numbers came to feeders in the Pevensey Levels and north of the Downs near Edburton with up to 15 seen on the Pevensey Levels in Sep. In Nov 8 were seen on the Walland Marsh near Rye and a flock of around 20 were at the Arlington Reservoir northwest of Beachy Head. Dorset had a peak count of 3 flying over Durlston and singles were seen at Durlston and Portland. Just one was a regular at a south Devon birdtable in Nov and in Hampshire a single bird was seen at Barton on sea on Oct 12.

Yellowhammer: First song was heard at Pulborough Brooks on Mar 1

INSECTS Butterflies:

Small Tortoiseshell: Not one but two seen in Sussex - a late report from Eastbourne on Feb 17 (when another had been previously reported at Seaford) and the second from an undisclosed site on Feb 20

Peacock: A freshly emerged insect at Plaistow near Horsham on Feb 27

Speckled Wood: A sighting (with photograph) of one at High Salvington in Worthing on Feb 23

PLANTS Sweet Violets: This report is not of the normal flowers which can be seen in many places but of the first sighting of the unusual 'pink flowered' plants growing at the west end of Nore Barn Wood on the Emsworth shore. Until recently three colour tones could be found here - the normal violet, a pure pink and an intermediate form but the pure pink flowers have been diminishing and may not appear this year (choked out by Ivy!). The colour of the intermediate form can be seen in Brian Fellows photo taken on Feb 28 - see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x844-sweet-violet-pink-nbw- 28.02.13.jpg

OTHER WILDLIFE

Bottle-nosed Dolphin: On Mar 1 the Durlston dairy said .. "Keep an eye out for Dolphins as March is usually a very good month to spot them, and yesterday over 100 (reported as Bottlenosed) were seen off of Portland!" .. I would like more evidence for the reported 'over 100' as the Portland website goes no further than to say that around 15 were seen on Feb 27 and that the same group were back on Feb 28, and my records for last year have none with a count greater than 35 (perhaps this is a typo on the Durlston website as must be the ungrammatical use of 'off of'!

Smooth Newt: On Feb 22 Laurence Holloway noted at least 4 Smooth Newts in his Bognor Regis area garden pond and went on to say that he hoped they would take care to remain hidden during daylight hours as Blackbirds would take them if they spotted them (I had never before heard of Blackbirds catching Newts)

Stickleback: Mergansers catch and consume lots of small fish but this week Barry Yates at Rye Harbour shows that one Merganser met its match in a Three-spined Stickleback whose spines saved its life, causing the Merganser to 'cough it up' when the spines hit a sensitive spot in the Mergansers 'mouth'. See http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/2/27/sawbill.html for a photo. This must be a common problem and we have all seen how adept Kingfishers are in subduing their prey and then positioning it to prevent Stickleback spines from snagging their throats so perhaps this was an inexperienced Merganser.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR FEB 25 - MAR 3 (WEEK 9 OF 2013) Thu 28 Feb

Two more bird species for my year list After several days battling with Microsoft in order to transfer my wildlife database to a new computer (after a series of error messages when trying to use simple copies of the Random Access files which work without problems on my ten year old computer) I concluded that I needed to write programs to unload the files to Sequential format, then to reload them on the new machine. I completed the unload program this morning and celebrated by taking this afternoon off to visit the Budds Farm Pools in Havant and the Paulsgrove Chalk Pit on Portsdown, finding the pair of Scaup at Budds Farm and the nesting pair of Ravens on Portsdown. These brought my year list to 92 bird species. Also seen at Budds Farm was a full house of duck species including Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard and Teal with the Scaup hidden from view at the 'viewpoint', just behind the bank separating the central pool from the seaward pool but easily visible by walking a few yards further west along the top of the 'Mound'. The male Scaup was umistakeable but I had to assume that the female closely accompanying him was the other half of the pair which have been reported at the pools since Feb 16 as she was fast asleep with her head tucked under her wing! On Portsdown, nearing Fort Southwick and the driving test centre, I probably could have parked in the layby opposite the old entrance to the buildings which have now been demolished and are being carried away in lorries full of crushed concrete but I am still wary of the double yellow lines once intended to deter people from stopping right outside the Navy's sensitive research establishment so I continued west and parked in my usual spot just beyond Fort Southwick before walking back to the top of the Paulsgrove Chalk Pit. From a point around SU 636 067 I not only had a clear view of the Raven's nest, a large pile of sticks safely wedged between the steel struts of the 'topmost wing' of the electricity pylon rising from the foot of the chalk pit near its eastern end, but had a really close view of the non-sitting Raven perched on a promontory at the top of the chalk cliff face less than 20 yards from the path I was on, allowing me to take in its sturdy body and massive bill before the bird thought I was too close for comfort and took off, showing its long, pointed wings as it made a circuit - very soon returning to the same perch. Turning my attention to the nest, which was at almost exactly the same height that I was, I could see the sitting bird which did not stir. I must have seen Ravens before now but I have never been able to identify them with confidence so this went down as a new addition to my 'life list'.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR FEB 18 - 24 (WEEK 08 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: This week has brought a second surge of wildfowl heading east up the English Channel including 55 Red-throated past Seaford on Feb 18, 20+ past Hastings on Feb 19 and 10 past Folkestone on Feb 20. No other Divers were noted heading east but the Pacific Diver was seen again at Penzance on Feb 22, the White-billed Diver was in the Orkneys and at least one Great Northern was near the mouth of Langstone Harbour on Feb 18 with six of them in Portland Harbour on Feb 16 Grebes: Most unexpected news was of a Pied-billed Grebe at Ham Wall in Somerset on Feb 16. On Feb 19 there were still 310 Great Crested off Sandwich and 160+ in Rye Bay off Pett while on Feb 17 there were two Red-necked off Torquay in Devon and three at Texel in the Netherlands. Portland Harbour still had 8 Slavonian on Feb 16 with 1 in Southampton Water on Feb 17 and 2 at Lymington on Feb 18, while one was in Rye Bay on Feb 20 (maybe heading east). On Feb 16 the Hayling Oysterbeds area had 21 Black-necked and Portland Harbour had 20, at the Blashford Lakes 2 were still present on Feb 18. Bittern: On Feb 18 one spent over four hours 'showing well' just behind the reserve building at Farlington Marshes, presumably a newcomer there (it was seen again on Feb 20) and on Feb 18 one was seen at the West Trout Lake in the Chichester pits and there were other reports from five more sites during the week.

White Stork: The first reports of these for the year came France on Feb 17 when 15 were seen, presumably the first returning to nest in northern Europe, with singles in Belgium on Feb 18 and the Netherlands on Feb 19

Glossy Ibis: On Feb 2 last year RBA was reporting 30 of these in the UK, 23 of them together in Pembrokeshire but this year only one is currently known to RBA - a single in Pembrokeshire. The long staying bird at Bickerly Common near Ringwood was there from 2 Dec 2012 to 15 Jan 2013, being seen at Christchurch Harbour on Jan 16 but thereafter vanishing to leave none being reported in southern England until Feb 18 when one was seen by Trevor Carter at the Pagham Harbour Breech Pool (though it seems none of the regular Sussex birders saw it as it never appeared on the SOS News). Then on Feb 23 members of the Havant Wildlife Group chanced to find one in a field of the Warblington Farm between Havant and Emsworth (Field L on my map of the farm - see http://ralph-hollins.net/warblington.htm - which is at SU 731 054) where it was still showing and apparently finding food on Feb 24.

Bewicks Swan: Three were still at Harbridge near Ringwood on Feb 17 and two at Longham Lakes at Bournemouth on Feb 21 but a couple of reports from the Netherlands on Feb 18, one with a count of 806 birds, suggests that they are now starting to return north

Whooper Swan: I think these too are gathering before heading north. On Feb 17 a herd of 68 were seen in the Sheffield area and over in the Netherlands a total of 97 were in the 'remarkable' category on the Trektellen website.

Whitefront Goose: Another sign of wildfowl gathering prior to heading north was a count of 8850 of these at a Netherlands site on Feb 17.

Canada Goose: At Budds Farm Pools in Havant on Feb 19 two Canada Geese and two Mute Swans were newly back to claim their nest sites.

Red-breasted Goose: More than a fortnight after the Farlington/Thorney Island bird was last seen at Thorney on Feb 2 one was on the mud off Langstone village but there have been no other reports this week.

Shelduck: Birds that come to us from the continent in order to survive the winter are now heading back east (6 past Dungeness on Feb 20 and 21 past Rye Harbour on Feb 21) - others will stay to nest here before heading east for their summer moult.

Scaup: A pair were on Budds Farm pools in Havant from Feb 16 to 20 and on Feb 20 there was also an Aythya hybrid there which expert opinion decided was not the 'Fudge Duck' which had been turning up there each winter from 1999 to 2001/12.

Smew: Still present this week were two males at the Roadford Reservoir on the western edge of Dartmoor (last seen Feb 19), one male with two females at the Dungeness RSPB reserve at Dungeness on Feb 17, one redhead at the Bournemouth Longham Lakes up to Feb 21 and one redhead (possibly heading east from Longham) at the Weir Wood reservoir near Crowborough in Sussex seen on Feb 20.

White-tailed Sea Eagle: One seen in the Netherlands on Feb 17 may have drifted west to be seen high in a thermal over Rye town on Feb 19 (the report was actually of two young birds over Rye) but there have been no further sightings in England.

Water Rail: Sightings of up to 5 at Baffins Pond in Portsmouth and 2 at Brook Meadow in Emsworth this week may be indications that these are starting to feel restless and are already heading back to continental breeding sites but it seems early for their normal passage which usually occurs at the end of March and it may be that these sightings are the result of increased hunger felt by the birds and less cover to hide them after the battering of winter winds and rain.

Common Crane: Some of these have been present through the winter but the presence of 2886 birds in the Netherlands on Feb 18 seems to indicate the return of a large number of them from winter quarter.

Avocet: Last week I suggested that these were starting to move back from winter quarters and this week this is supported by a comment from Folkestone saying that a single Avocet among a mixed bag of species heading east there on Feb 20 was the first to be seen there in February, indicating that spring passage is starting earlier this year.

Med Gull: These started to return to south coast breeding areas last week from Feb 15 and numbers have continued to increase this week with at least 22 in Langstone Harbour on Feb 18 and a similar number at Pagham on Feb 22 when there were also 17 at the Blashford Lakes (though they are unlikely to nest there)

Common Gull: My impression is that the majority of these have now left southern coasts and reports of 49 seen inland at the Weir Wood reservoir near Crowborough on Feb 20 and of 1650 passing over Gloucestershire on Feb 21 tend to confirm their movement.

Sandwich Tern: It is always difficult to pick out new arrivals from birds which have wintered here but I regard the arrival of 5 at Rye Harbour (where there had been no wintering birds) on Feb 16 as the start of migrant arrivals and this week one seen at Exmouth in Devon was considered to be a new arrrival while at Dungeness one seen on Feb 19 was said to be their first of the spring and it was followed by 3 more heading east on Feb 20.

Turtle Dove: The bird wintering in north Cornwall was seen again in Feb 20.

Short-eared Owl: Up to 3 were seen hunting the Hayling Island Golf Course on at least a couple of evenings this week.

Water Pipit: The number of reports continues to increase and on Feb 17 a flock of more than 20 was reported in the Kent Stour valley east of Canterbury after a more usual number (just 1) had been at Farlington Marshes on Feb 16.

Waxwing: Biggest flock this week was of 44 in Devon (at Heathfield on the A38 just inland from Paignton) followed by 29 in Romsey on Feb 16 and 26 at Durrington near Worthing on Feb 19 and 20.

Black Redstart: After the report of one in song at Camborne in Cornwall on Feb 12 another was heard at Seaford in Sussex on Feb 21.

Fieldfare: Only two reports this week with 'many' on the Sussex downs south of Pulborough on Feb 19 and just 2 (with 10 Redwing) at Weir Wood in East Sussex on Feb 20.

Blackcap: One had been heard singing at Chandlers Ford near Eastleigh on Jan 26 but it was not until Feb 16 when another was heard singing at Portland.

Pallas' Warbler: The bird at Eversley on the Hants/Berks border near Fleet was still present on Feb 20.

Chiffchaff: As with Sandwich Terns it is difficult to pick out lone early arrivals from the wintering birds already here but on Feb 19 the Christchurch Harbour (CHOG) website suggested that one seen there that day in a wood where no wintering birds had been seen could have been a migrant.

Great Grey Shrike: On Feb 21 the RBA site reported a UK total of just 3 birds and two of them are in our area - one is at Wyke Down in the north east corner of Dorset near Martin Down and the other in the Beauliu Road station area of the New Forest and this latter bird was in the news this weeek for being heard 'singing' on Feb 22.

Chough: Two birds (hopefully a pair) were on the Lizard in Cornwall on Feb 17. I think there has been an unsuccessful attempt to re-introduce them to the county in recent years but alongside that I think there has been a successful natural return of a few birds to Cornwall and last year these had 5 nests producing 18 fledged young.

Raven: Two were seen near Plymouth carrying nest material on Feb 16 and on Feb 18 (following news on Feb 9 of a pair taking an interest in the Paulsgrove Chalk pit cliffs on Portsdown) a pair were nestbuilding on an electricity pylon above the chalk pit.

Siskin: The usual February flood of these passing north has brought reports of them on garden feeders.

Twite: Also heading north were Twite that are usually much less numerous than the Siskin but I see that on Feb 16 a flock of 14 were seen in Yorkshire and on Feb 17 a flock of 25 was in the Netherlands.

Hawfinch: Also more numerous than usual this winter there were 27 in the West Dean Woods north of Chichester on Feb 19 with 25 at the Mercer's Way site in Romsey on Feb 20.

Yellowhammer: At least 55 were seen at Toyd Down near Martin (west of Fordingbridge) on Feb 18 and on Feb 21 there were 80 at Compton in Dorset.

Corn Bunting: Also at Toyd Down on Feb 18 were 50 Corn Bunting Vagrants: Unusual birds seen in the far north this week were a Pine Grosbeak in Shetland on Feb 15 and a super smart male Harlequin Duck on North Uist in the Hebrides on Feb 18 - see http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=027127 to see what it looks like and for the origin of its scientific name see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin_Duck. Escapees: A couple of smart birds seen on the R Exe in Exeter (regulars at the site) were Swan Geese which can be seen at http://www.devonbirds.org/images/cache/abd814096d99603c97f3a537d0d06fb1.j pg

INSECTS Butterflies:

Red Admiral: Seen at six sites this week from Bexhill at Hastings west to Durlston in Dorset. In Emsworth one was found floating in a bucket of water but flew off after being rescued and having a night's rest in a warm dry house.

Small Tortoiseshell: Two were active at different sites in East Sussex on Feb 15 and 17

Peacock: Individuals active at Durlston, Bognor, Shoreham and Alciston near Eastbourne

Comma: Just one seen on Feb 17 in Brede High Wood north of Hastings.

Moths: Declining moth numbers: For a worrying report on the diminishing number of moths see http://butterfly-conservation.org/1776/the-state-of-britains-moths.html

PLANTS

Mosses: Graeme Lyons latest blog entry for Feb 19 describes the species he found that day on the Sussex Downs at Ditchling Beacon - see http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/dubius- records.html - these 'new to him' species bring his all species life list to 4178 species.

DEFRA bans commercial trade in some invasive plants: I am pretty sure that we will all have come across one or more alien species clogging our waterways and DEFRA has at long last banned trade in five species. Read all about it in an entry dated Feb 19 by Brian Banks on the RX Website - see http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/2/19/closing-the-stable-door-after-the- horse-has-bolted.html

English Elm: On Feb 19 the first flowers of the year were out on trees (already crippled by Dutch Elm disease)overhanging the Langbrook stream where the footbridge takes you from Mill Lane at Langstone onto the South Moors area.

Dogs Mercury: The first newly flowering plants of this year (following those which appeared unseasonably last November) were seen on Feb 14 beside the Southleigh Road from Havant to Emsworth just east of the East Leigh Road junction.

Intermediate Periwinkle: Both Greater and Lesser Periwinkle have already started flowering and for anyone who makes the same mistake that I did and believes that the Greater Periwinkle var Oxyloba is Intermediate have a look at my diary entry at http://ralph-hollins.net/Diary.htm#1902 and scroll down to my photos of a garden cultivar of the Intermediate Periwinkle which has petals similar to Vinca major var Oxyloba but in a distinct pale (almost white) colour

Lungwort: This frequent garden escape was first seen flowering this year by Brian Fellows in Emsworth on Feb 11 but I did not come across it in Havant until Feb 19

Butterbur species and genders: The normal male Butterbur plants in Brook Meadow at Emsworth started to flower on Feb 14 and these were followed by the Giant Butterbur plants beside the Langbrook stream at Langstone on Feb 19 when the unusual female Butterbur plants at the same site were only just starting to push up their stems after being under water for some time.

OTHER WILDLIFE

Frog: The first two reports of spawn came on Feb 4 from Waterlooville and Fareham with no further news until Feb 16 when there was 'lots of spawn' at Longdown on the eastern edge of the New Forest just off the main Southampton to Lyndhurst road. Only one report since then of a single clump at Brook Meadow in Emsworth on Feb 21.

Lumpsucker Fish (Cyclopterus lumpus): On Feb 20 the Rye Bay website had an entry about an unusual Lumpsucker fish (whose Roe is a Caviar substiute) seen on a Fisherman's stall at Hastings (see http://www.rxwildlife.info/sightings/2013/2/20/rock-a-nore-birds-and-fish.html) and you can see other species of Lumpsucker at http://www.uk- fish.info/pages/lumpsucker.html by scrolling down to the end of page

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR FEB 18 - 24 (WEEK 8 OF 2013)

Tue 19 Feb

Red-breasted Goose at Langstone After a morning spent writing up yesterday's visits to the Havant and Warblington cemeteries to create posters to go on the notice boards at the cemeteries I was glad to be able to get out for a walk around the South Moors and Langstone village areas in warm sunshine (should you be interested in seeing the photos taken at the cemeteries they are now online, together with photos from a walk round St Faith's Churchyard, at http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm) Heading for the Langbrook stream I found Cow Parsley still flowering beside Park Road South outside Bosmere school but no Scurvygrass flowers yet in the central reservation as I crossed the road. Beside the stream immediately south of the Langstone Technology Park approach road there were still a couple of flowers on the Yellow-flowered Strawberries but little else, other than Snowdrops, along the streamside path until south of the Mallards housing where I forced my way into the wasteland north of the bridge to the ex-Langstone Dairy Farm. Here there was plenty of evidence of the recent high water levels which have delayed the appearance of the female Butterbur (leaves are starting to appear but no flower spikes yet). Moving to the southern part of the area where the ground is higher and has not been flooded there was a good display of the Giant Butterbur (Petasites japonicus) which I managed to photograph but a cluster of trees on my side of the stream prevented me from getting close enough to photograph a single clump of Marsh Marigolds flowering on the far bank of the stream.

Giant Butterbur Plants On the South Moors a Song Thrush was singing and a Chiffchaff creeping silently through nearby trees while a single Stock Dove and what I think were two Lesser Blackback Gulls flew over. My hope here was to find Marsh Marigolds around the wetland at the northern end of the Orchid field but after splashing through the mainly sodden field I found no flowers and the leaves of only one plant - it would seem that the excess of water has been too much even for the these water loving plants (several plants could be seen here at the end of January and one plant then had four flowers). Coming out on Southmoor Lane both Goat Willow and Cherry Plum were still flowering. Up at the Budds Farm pools viewpoint I failed to spot the pair of Scaup which Tim Lawman had seen here this morning but I did notice that a pair of Mute Swans and a pair of Canada Geese were newly back, presumably to claim their usual nest sites, and I heard my first Med Gull call of the year though I did not spot the bird (later I both saw and heard them along the shore). While still on the mound I put up a single Meadow Pipit which I guess had landed here to rest on a journey towards its breeding ground. At the mouth of the Langbrook stream there were still many Wigeon and Gadwall with a party of 15 Turnstone scurrying along the shore before flying off. Turning up the Langbrook Stream I paused before crossing footbridge into Mill Lane to scan the sorry remnant of English Elms and notched up another first for the year with a couple of flower buds already open. A short way along Mill Lane, before reaching the gateway of the West Mill, I searched the bramble covered bank of the ditch for signs of the Summer Snowflake plants that were flowering here as early as January last year when the bank was clearer as a result of a tree felling - today no flowers found but a healthy cluster of leaves was coming up so I spent a little time trying to remove the brambles that were choking their growth. At the east end of Mill Lane, where I left the roadway to take the footpath towards the main road, I paused to photograph both the fresh Mimosa blossom and the flowers of what I believe to be Intermediate Periwinkle (though probably a garden cultivar) which has flowers similar to the Oxyloba variety of Greater Periwinkle in that the petals are narrow and separated from each other giving the impression of a multi-bladed aircraft propeller but are very distinct from both Great and Lesser Periwinkle in being a very pale, almost white, colour.

Mimosa and Intermediate Periwinkle When I reached the Royal Oak pub on the Langstone village shore I scanned the water's edge, mainly looking for more Med Gulls of which I found a couple with the black heads that immediately pick them out from the brown headed 'Black- headed' Gulls. I also noticed that it seemed as if all the Common Gulls had departed before I came on a sight which stopped my scan, the back end of a Goose with a very different pattern of black and white to that seen on the Brent that were still around - where the back view of a Brent is mainly of the grey/black upper plumage this one showed a lot more white and a blacker upper plumage and, as I was watching, it turned its head enough for me to see the vivid red of its breast and lower neck. This must be a Red-breasted Goose and most probably the individual that has been at Farlington Marshes and then Thorney Island though it has not been reported there since Feb 2, more than two weeks ago. Of course this could be a different bird, perhaps a local escapee from a wildfowl collection, and it did show a possible difference in behaviour in that the previously reported bird was usually reported as being in close association with a large flock of Brent whereas this one was at least 20 metres from the nearest Brent (though the Brent that were present were all similarly scattered). The goose was around 200 metres from me so the photo I was able to get may not convince every one as to the bird's identity! With the Med Gulls seen earlier, which were my first for the year, this Goose brought my year list of birds up to 89.

View of the Langstone shore and the Red-breasted Goose at the centre of the first photo Reaching the Billy Trail via the path from Wade Court Road I found my first flowers on Garden Escape Lungwort which, with the English Elm flowers, added two to my flowering plant yearlist which I believe now totals 86. Mon 18 Feb Havant and Warblington cemeteries My first outing this morning was to Havant Cemetery where I found nothing unexpected but if you want to see the photos I took, including a Blue Anemone, catkin/leaf buds on a Hornbeam tree, and some black and white Lichens that I cannot yet name, go to http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm) where you can also see what I found at the Warblington cemetery later in the day which did include my first sight of flower buds on Elder and the not to be missed BIRD1 and BIRD2. One picture which would not stand the reduction in size necessary for it to fit on the A4 size poster for the cemetery notice board gets showing here - this was taken by Peter Raby at 5:45 am on Feb 2 so the reddening of the eastern sky must be caused by the moon, not sunrise. If you look closely at the rightmost of the four stone crosses you will see BIRD3 of the unnatural avifauna of this cemetery.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR FEB 11 - 17 (WEEK 07 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: Red-throated are maybe feeling the call of spring with several reports of them moving east 'up channel' (max 21 past Seaford on Feb 16). Two Black- throated were also in the eastward movement past Seaford but a substantial group of 15 were still off Portscatho (near Falmouth) in south Cornwall on Feb 10. The biggest group of Great Northern (just 10) were on the north Cornwall coast at Carbis Bay (near St Ives) on Feb 11. Also in Conwall the Pacific Diver (see http://twearth.com/species/pacific-loon and http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?print=1&a=1693 ) was still being reported off Penzance this week. Also still with us was the White-billed Diver (maybe two of them) in the Orkneys Grebes: The winter flock of Great Crested off Dungeness and in Rye Bay since Jan 1 has increased from 1260 on Jan 1 to 2400 on Feb 15 but the only raft currently reported in Hampshire was of just 44 at Weston Shore in Southampton Water. Single Red-necked were seen at Selsey Bill on Jan 12 and in Portland Harbour on Feb 14 with more regular sightings off Paignton in Devon (photo of that bird at http://www.devonbirds.org/images/cache/f402fa8433cd4caa56afca282c00ebf9.jp g) Biggest count of Slavonian was 17 in Portland Harbour on Feb 14 with 10 on the sea off Pagham Harbour on Feb 9 and 3 in Langstone Harbour on Feb 16 when 2 were off the Lymington shore. On Feb 10 Studland Bay had 52 Black- necked followed by 30 at Falmouth where one was already in summer plumage by Feb 14. In Hampshire 21 were off the Hayling Oysterbeds on Feb 16 and 2 remained at the Blashford Lakes up to Feb 14 at least Sooty Shearwater: The first on the English south coast this year was off Portland on Feb 14

Cattle Egret: Singles have been seen in the Somerset Levels (where they bred last year) and in Northumberland in January but the only other report is a so far annonymous report on RBA of one somewhere in Kent on Feb 14

Barnacle Goose: On Feb 16 Trektellen reported a flock of 2852 at a Netherlands site in its 'remarkable' list and on the same day a flock of 60 appeared in Southampton Water before flying up the River Itchen. On Feb 17 this flock (variously counted as 60 or 55) flew around the Warsash and Titchfield areas. A distant photo of the flock can be seen at http://www.goingbirding.co.uk/hants/show_photo.asp?photo_id=3541 (clicking PHOTOS in the header bar will alow you to see - by clicking the thumbnail) an excellent shot of the Nore Barn (Emsworth) Spotted Redshank taken on Feb 16 and showing its developing summer plumage)

Brent Goose: The birds which have been wintering in the Langstone Harbour area now spend much of their days feeding up in fields away from the harbour shores (where the Eelgrass is probably now in short supply) so when I cycled down the Hayling Coastal Path on Feb 15 and found a substantial and noisy flock spread out along the tide line well before high tide I had the impression that these were passage birds unaware of which inland fields were safe grazing places - I also remarked to some people that I passed the 'the Brent are already talking in Russian' leaving them wondering about my sanity but expressing my feeling that the excited chatter was a signal that these were birds on the move.

Smew: Still at least 5 birds at five different sites in central southern England including a first winter male seen at Wellington Country Park near Fleet in north Hampshire on Feb 16

Kestrel: On Feb 9 one was seen at Rodmell near Lewes doing something that seems to be a regular ploy which hungry Kestrels use to get their food at second hand by stealing from Barn Owls (forced to hunt by day because they are equally hungry). The Kestrel waits until the Barn Owl gets airborne with its prey then flies at full tilt into the Barn Owl as it attempts to grab the prey from the Owl's talons - on this occasion the Kestrel was unsuccessful at the first attempt but got what it was after on a second attempt. Barn Owls will no doubt gradually learn to eat their meal on the ground (it is unlikely that the Owl had young to feed at this time of year though when prey is plentiful Barn Owls will have second of third broods).

Merlin: I have noticed an increasing number of sightings recently and I think many of these are of birds that have wintered further south and are now returning to northern breeding areas. That is almost certainly the case with one Merlin seen approaching Portland Bill from the sea on Feb 15 but then seen to be taken as prey by a pair of local Peregrines before it could reach land.

Oystercatcher: The unexpected appearance of one at Fleet Pond in north Hampshire was thought to show that birds which have been wintering on the south coast are starting to move north to their preferred breeding sites.

Ringed Plover: The appearance of a flock of 43 at Brighton Marina on Feb 16 was also thought to be an indication of passage as these were the first to be seen there this winter.

Avocet: These too could well now be moving east away from west country wintering sites. 5 were seen at Farlington Marshes on Feb 10 and 10 at Pagham Harbour on Feb 15

Knot: A similar passage movement was probably responsible for the appearance of at least 170 Knot on the mud of Chichester Harbour between Langstone and Emsworth on Feb 9

Ruff: Also probably on passage were a number of Ruff which were seen at Lymington, in the Hampshire Avon valley, in the Shoreham airport area beside the River Adur and at Pulborough Brooks in flocks of up to 14 Med Gull: The first 'mewing' calls were heard at Rye Harbour on Feb 15 and at Lymington on Feb 16 when one seen at Nore Barn (Emsworth) was in summer plumage. Also on Feb 16 four were seen at the Hayling Oyeterbeds while two more were flying east along the Sussex coast at Seaford Black-headed Gull: This week has brought many of these gulls to the Hayling Oysterbeds to claim nest sites Sandwich Tern: On Feb 16 Rye Harbour recorded the arrival of the first five presumed migrants (none have been wintering there). Woodlark: The first song of the year had been heard somewhere in Sussex on Feb 4 but this week brought the first reports of song from two New Forest sites on Feb 15. Skylark: Although a few birds have been singing sporadically for some time this week brought reports of general song at sites such as Martin Down in Hampshire.

Water Pipit: These will now be starting to show a pink flush on their breasts making it easier to identify them. This week 3 were at Christchurch Harbour on Feb 15, 2 on the Lymington shore on Feb 16 when 1 was also seen at Farlington Marshes.

Waxwing: Still being seen at 14 sites in the central south with 50 birds by the A38 inland of Paignton in Devon on Feb 15, 29 at Damerham near Fordingbrige on Feb 12 and at Romsey on Feb 16, 24 at Durrington near Worthing on Feb 13 with smaller numbers in Havant, Southsea, Andover, Basingstoke, Eastbourne and Westfield near Hastings. Wren: On Feb 16 a Hampshire birder was watching a Woodpigeon that had perched on his garden wall when (like Miss Muffet and the spider) down came a Wren and perched on the back of the Woodpigeon. No re-action from the Pigeon even when the Wren started pecking at the back of the Pigeon's neck. Presumably the Wren was removing something like a parasite which the Pigeon could not get rid of on its own but that is just a wild guess - I wonder if we will ever know the truth? Dunnock: Lots of wing-flicking and chasing around in my garden this week as the spring hormones get to work on this species.

Black Redstart: First report of song came on Feb 12 from Camborne in Cornwall.

Dartford Warbler: First song reported at Christchurch Harbour on Feb 7

Pallas Warbler: The bird at the Eversley gravel pits on the Hants Berks border which was first seen (and thought to be a Yellow Browed) on Jan 4 was still present on Feb 13.

Chiffchaff: Song heard at Reculver in Kent on Feb 9 and at Goring near Worthing in Feb 15.

Bearded Tit: Three showing well at the Long Pool in Pagham Harbour on Feb 15 and four were seen at Farlington Marshes on Feb 16.

Penduline Tit: A female was seen in the Kent Stour Valley on Feb 13, 14 and 16. See a photo of it at http://www.kentos.org.uk/Stodmarsh/images/Penduline_Tit_16-02-13_kos_sv.jpg

Great Grey Shrike: Still present in the New Forest near Beaulieu Road station on Feb 16

Jackdaw: Another oddity report date Feb 16 from Westfield near Hastings where a Jackdaw has been coming to a garden feeder to eat fatballs - see http://westfieldwildlife.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/jackdaw-2/

Raven: Richard Jones, the Portsdown Hill ranger reponsible to Portsmouth City for the wildlife on the hill, saw a pair of Ravens taking a close look at the inaccessible cliffs of the Paulsgrove Chalk Pit on Feb 9. Peregrines have nested here for some years but Ravens would be new.

Hawfinch: 30 were seen at the Mercer's Way site in Romsey on Jan 17 but that Hampshire record (??) has now been beaten with at least 35 there on Feb 16.

Snow Bunting: One has been seen this week at Goring near Worthing and one remains at Ferrybridge (Weymouth) with another nearby at West Bexington and one was at Dungeness on Feb 14 but that date brought a peak count of 20+ from Treen near Lands End in Cornwall. Across the water there was a flock of 136 in the Netherlands on Feb 13.

Lapland Bunting: The only place which seems to have these this winter is Treen in Cornwall where there were at least 6 on Feb 15

Yellowhammer: There have been very few of these around this winter but Feb 13 brought news of a flock of 200 from Toyd Down (very close to Martin Down on the Hants/Dorset/Wilts border) and on Feb 10 a flock of 40 was reported in a Bognor Regis garden.

Reed Bunting: First report of song comes on Feb 9 from the Warblington Farm between Langstone and Emsworth where one male and three females were present.

Corn Bunting: Also on Toyd Down with the 200 Yellowhammers on Feb 13 were 78 Corn Bunting

Escapes: A pretty pair of Cape Teal were at Reculver on the north Kent coast on Feb 13 and you can see them at http://www.kentos.org.uk/Reculver/images/capte0213b.jpg and http://www.kentos.org.uk/Reculver/images/capte0213a.jpg

INSECTS Butterflies: Brimstone: One flying at Graffham Down near Midhurst on Feb 13

Red Admiral: Sightings on Feb 15 and 16 from the Hayling Oysterbeds and Durslston respectivel

Peacock: Again two sightings - at Shoreham Airport on Feb 14 and at Durlston on Feb 1

Other Insects Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris): Brian Fellows watched one at work in the Emsworth area on Feb 14

PLANTS Polypody Fern: Of the three species found in Britain only the Common Polypody is able to thrive in the dry environment of the Sand Dunes on the Hayling Island shore near Gunner Point and I have long been aware of one place where they can be found but when I visited the area on Feb 15 and followed a slightly different route I found the ferns in two new places, apparently living on sand (though maybe there are other sources of nutrition hidden under the sand).

Danish Scurvygrass: I found flowers on a very few plants by the Petersfield Roadside in Havant on Feb 11 but before long I expect these flowers will spread until we have lengthy stretches of new 'white line' along the road edges both here and in the Park Road South area (plus many other places).

Mouse-ears: This week Brian Fellows has removed the sense of confusion that I expressed last week about the distinction between Common and Sticky Mouse- ear by finding that both do exist near the A27 underpass where the line of the old A27 road intersects that of the new A27. Both species are currently in flower there but I had only discovered the Common Mouse-ear.

Early Dog Violet: The first single flower had opened in the Havant cemetery by Feb 11 and seen there will be a broad carpet of the flowers at the east end of the area.

Blackthorn: On Feb 11 I found one young bush covered with unopen buds and on Feb 12 I found two others with their flowers already opening.

Spurge Laurel: Last week I reported that John Goodspeed had found this in flower on Feb 5 in Markwells Wood near Finchdean and on Feb 9 it was flowering on Portsdown.

Alder: This week Brian Fellows found both male and female catkins open on trees at Brook Meadow in Emsworth.

Dog's Mercury: I found fresh male plants in flower at Pook Lane in Warblington back on Nov 1 but had not seen any elsewhere until this week when new plants were flowering by the Southleigh Road between Havant and Emsworth on Feb 14.

Cow Parsley: Although the general flowering of this has not yet started I found two plants in full flower beside the Crossways road in Leigh Park on Feb 11

Wild Primrose: Many cultivated plants have been in flower through the winter but this week has brought what I consider to be self sown wild plants into flower, first in the south east corner of the Havant Cemetery on Feb 11 and then on Feb 12 in the shoreline copse beside the Hayling Coastal path just north of the large open West Lane fields on the other side of the path (with a few more alongside Daw Lane).

Lungwort: What was probably a garden escape was flowering in Brook Meadow at Emsworth on Feb 11

Coltsfoot: I have been keeping an eye out for this recently but the only flowering I am aware of was in the shingle of the Rye Bay shore near Pett where it was photographed by Cliff Dean - see http://rxbirdwalks.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/p1090205.jpg

Butterbur: Last week Brian Fellows told us that the sheathed flowerspikes of this were pushing up by the River Ems at Brook Meadow and when I was there on Feb 14 I found just one spike showing its flowers (though they were hidden under a leaf).

Grape Hyacinth: The first flower of this common Garden Escape was out in Havant on Feb 11.

OTHER WILDLIFE

Fox: Yelping heard from the Billy Trail after dark on Feb 12 came (pretty sure!) from a wild Vixen - see my Summary for last week for comments about Fox reproduction. This is also a good place to recommend that if you did not see the BBC TV programme on Urban Wildlife in London do go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01k784h/Natural_World_20112012_Unnat ural_History_of_London/ for a fascinating hour which includes the unlikely complete episode of a feral pigeon being caught in flight by a Pelican (did you know that these have been present in St James Park London since 1664 - see http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/st-jamess-park/flora-and-fauna/pelicans for details) and eventually swallowed whole after some violent struggling in the Pelican's expandible beak. Other items which may surprise you are the sequence showing pigeons using Underground trains to commute between stations where they feed on passenger left-overs and the story that the Ring-necked Parakeets which abound in the city originate from birds used in filming 'The African Queen' at the Ealing Studios in 1951 (for that and other suggestions about their origin see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_parakeets and http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/british-birds/96117-ring-necked- parakeets-how-exactly-did-they-get-here.html )

Common Seal: On Feb 11 one was seen at the RSPB Pulborough Brooks reserve after a long swim inland up the River Arun

Adder: The first to emerge from hibernation was see on the Durlston cliffs back on Feb 4 and there was a second sighting there on Feb 16

Sea Slug: One species has recently achieved fame with the discovery of its unique evolutionary development - the replaceable penis (this can get broken off during the complicated sex life of these hermaphrodites so the species has an internal store of replacements which it can fit within 24 hours). See http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-02/13/sea-slug-penis (well worth seeing for the colourful picture of the Sea Slug species concerned)

Five-bearded Rockling: Several of these were found in a rock pool at Pett near Hastings on Feb 15 and if you want to know more about this strange fish (and its two cousins) go to http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Rockling.htm and scroll down through that page

Razor shell: One of these was also found in the Pett rockpools - not just an empty shell which you might find washed up anywhere on the shore but a live specimen sticking up vertically from the sandy bottom of the pool. See http://www.wildrye.info/dates/ to find out about the event planned for Feb 19 for which this visit to the Pett rockpools was a precursor

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR FEB 11 - 17 (WEEK 7 OF 2013)

Tue 12 Feb

First Blackthorn flowers and a massive wader roost at the Oysterbeds With only a light wind I got on my bike and headed first for the Hermitage Stream in the Stockheath area of Leigh Park where the torrent of water in the stream meant that there was no Green Sandpiper but I did come on a Blackthorn tree in flower confiming my impression that the buds which I had seen elsewhere yesterday were almost certainly Blackthorn despite the absence of any 'black' wood or thorns on that young shrub - today's find was a mature tree and many of its flowers were already open. Towards the end of this outing I came across another tree in flower on north Hayling. From Stockheath I rode south to reach the Brockhampton stream alongside Budds Farm but failed to find the hoped for Kingfisher but did enjoy the first of several good views of male Goldeneye displaying when I reached the sea with the tide already well up towards the peak of this month's spring tide. At the Budds Farm pools all the expected species were present but in low number - maybe some of the duck have already left for breeding areas and bursts of aggression among the Coot flock indicated that they will soon be going their separate ways. Along the South Moors shore the tide was well up, leaving only a narrow strip of weedy shingle for the Rock Pipits to operate in and that meant that I saw three different birds before I reached the mouth of the Langbrook stream where there was a large number of mixed duck species including more Goldeneye among the Wigeon, Merganser and Gadwall (at least 60 Gadwall here with others already seen elsewhere) Crossing the bridge to the Oysterbeds I added Cormorant and Shelduck to my list of bird species together with vast numbers of Dunlin and Grey Plover (no doubt also Ringed Plover and Knot though I did not pick out any of those). In the Lagoon were more Goldeneye and Merganser though not the Scaup which have been there recently and on the nesting island a pair of Herring Gull seemed to have already claimed their nest site. From this area it was easy to see that work was already in progress to raise the height of the nesting area on South Binness - a large barge was moored there, a big crane had been erected (perhaps for the purpose of moving gravel from the barge to the island), and some sort of bulldozer was present to spread the gravel - with one of the highest tides of the year at its peak as I watched seeing the bulldozer above the water level was a good omen for the survival of the Tern nests in May! Next stop was the small shoreline copse at the point where the large open West Lane fields start but before reaching it I had to cycle through shallow water where the pond in the field south of the pony stables had risen above the level of the coastal path (something I have never seen before). In the copse, as expected, the first genuine wild Primrose flowers were opening and after seeing them I took the footpath to West Lane and then rode along Daw Lane where more Primroses and a lot of the Oyxloba variant Great Periwinkle flowers were seen. Continuing north and east to Northney I heard and saw a few Rooks around the Northney Farm area rookery but could see little evidence that they were nest building yet (so I may have been too early in writing off the Emsworth rookery) but when I reached the North Common open space I did find a massive flock of at least 800 Brent in the grass field between it and the Northney houses. Also here were the first Lapwing I had seen during this trip plus more Teal and Merganser in the boating lake and the marina inlet Crossing Langstone Bridge on my way home I had an unexpected addition to my bird year list as a Sandwich Tern flew low over my head from Langstone into Chichester Harbour. My only other note as I rode up the Billy Trail from the main road was of one of the White Comfrey plants having its first flowers of the year (though I have already seen this starting to flower in St Faith's churchyard). One final observation is that, as I write this at home well after dark, I am hearing loud intermittent yelping which I am pretty sure comes from a Vixen in the Billy Trail behind my house.

Mon 11 Feb A miserable day cheered by two new flowering plants The sight of massive snowflakes slowly falling to melt on the ground was pleasant if viewed from indoors in a warm house but the precipitation eventually ended giving me a chance to get some fresh air. As the light would soon fade I made a small circuit starting with the Havant cemetery in which the first Early Dog Violet (just one where there will soon be a carpet of them) was in flower as were half a dozen self sown Primroses in the south-eastern corner where Primrose plants form a solid carpet. Also noted was the first mass flowering of Daffodils beside the track from the Eastern Road entrance to the Holocaust Memorial. Nothing noteworthy as I made my way north up New Lane before turning west along Crossways where I found three plants of Cow Parsley in flower plus (where the 'Winterbourne' stream coming from the Finchdean area to feed this stream in the West Leigh area, and which is probably now in flood across Woodberry Lane at Rowlands Castle - emerges on the south side of Crossways hidden under a metal grille) a young shrub, presumably an early Blackthorn, was growing, every branch of which was covered with tiny white flower buds. Crossing the Petersfield Road I walked down the western side towards Havant College but well before reaching the bus stop I found a small collection of Danish Scurvygrass plants already starting to flower (my first addition to my year list) Heading home along Elmleigh Road I turned off into the parallel road called Mavis Crescent which leads to the bridge over the railway at the station but before reaching that I found my second new flower - just one garden escape Grape Hyacinth flowering under the hedgerow where there was also a lot of Hairy Bittercress with small, starved leaves that led me to take a specimen home to count the stamens (just four, not six, proving it was Hairy, not Wavy)

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR FEB 4 - 10 (WEEK 6 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: Maybe Red-throated think that spring is around the corner as the number moving east past Dungeness is steadily increasing - 100 on Feb 2, 300 on Feb 3 and 320 on Feb 7 while more are probably moving up Channel - a site record count of 43 on the sea near Otterton between Exmouth and Sidmouth on Feb 8. Also at Otterton were 2 Black-throated with perhaps the same 2 passing Rye Harbour next day (Feb 9) though Cornwall remained the best place to see these with 5 in the Penzance area on both Feb 4 and 7. Most reports of Great Northern came from the Portsmouth area with two around the entrance to Langstone Harbour but one seen off Normans Bay (between Eastbourne and Hastings) could be part of an eastward movement. Far from southern England there were two White Billed Divers off Orkney on Feb 9. Grebes: There were 11 reports of Red-necked between Feb 3 and 9 including 2 together off the Netherlands on Feb 5 and 3 there on Feb 8 - over here there seems to have been just one on the sea off Dorset. Portland Harbour had up to 9 Slavonian during the week though Lymington had 5 on Feb 8 and up to 2 remained in the Langstone Harbour area. Peak count of Black-necked was 39 in Carrick Roads at Falmouth on Feb 7 followed by Portland Harbour with 24 on Feb 8. There were 8 off the Hayling Oysterbeds on Feb 7 and 2 remained in the Blashford Lakes Leach's Petrel: Oddity of the week was a report of one of these at Brogborough Lake in Bedfordshire on Feb 8. For photos of the bird see http://bedsbirds.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/lynchs-petrel.html. Brogborough Lake is on the east side of the M1 as it passes Milton Keynes on its west side Bittern: Although these can still be seen at most of their winter haunts there have been further signs that the birds are starting to move. On Feb 3 one appeared by a garden pond at Wisborough Green near Billingshurst in Sussex, on Feb 4 one was at Sandwich Bay and Feb 8 one was showing openly in the small reeded pool behind the reserve building at Farlington Marshes and another was near Arne on the west side of Poole Harbour where they have not been reported this winter.

Little Egret: Possible signs that numbers are starting to build up at places where they may soon be starting to nest are roost counts of 16 at Rye Harbour and 25 at Christchurch Harbour (though I am not aware of nesting colonies at either of these places). Here in Havant on Feb 5 I noticed two Little Egrets searching for food in a muddy field and had the very subjective feeling that they might a pair (solely based on the way they kept very close to each other at all times)

Great White Egret: Photos of three at Rye Harbour this week may have given an impression of new arrivals in this country but looking back through previous reports for this year it would be possible to make a case for a decrease in numbers over here - in mid January Lee Evans told us that the total number in the UK was 35 but on Feb 2 he quoted just 14 as the total and where there had been 7 at the Dungeness RPB reserve on Jan 15 it seems that the number there was down to 4, possibly accounting for the 3 appearing at nearby Rye Harbour. My guess would be that we are seeing normal spring movements of birds wishing to find mates and start breeding and I am pretty sure there will be more in this country next spring than there are now. I am now waiting for news of breeding in Somerset where we heard last May that two nests had been successful at the Shapwick Heath NNR hatching at least three chicks in one nest and one in another. Red-breasted Goose: No further news of the Farlington Marshes/Thorney Island bird since Feb 2 when it was last seen near Eames Farm on Thorney Island but to make up for the loss of publicity at Farlington Marshes Rob Chapman (it seems he prefers to be called Rob rather than Bob) has published a useful map of Farlington Marshes which can be seen at http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/mapping-out-the-reserve-1/. When I looked at the map I was puzzled by the pointer to the location of Chalkdock and have posted a comment saying that, while I have never been clear where the dock was I was under the impression that it was used for landing seaborne building materials for the construction, which took place between 1861 and 1867, of the Palmerston Forts on Portsdown Hill, long after the construction of the seawall allowing the draining of the marshes for agricultural use, which took place in 1773. The most likely answer is that the 1773 seawall excluded the north east corner of the present reserve (and the name of 'West Mudlands' shown on the map for the area behind the Reserve Building probably supports that idea). Hopefully this will be answered when Rob publishes further maps of a) that part of the reserve north of the A27 and b) the area north of 'the stream' known as 'The Bushes' Punk Aytha Hybrid: If you are having withdrawal symptoms on account of the absence of the 'Fudge Duck' from Budds Farm Pool this winter see http://www.devonbirds.org/images/cache/cc7b0556e7ae8923a7a9572d997920d0 .jpg for a photo of a bird currently resident on the Slapton Ley lake in south Devon. It is thought to be a hybrid between a Tufted Duck and a Red Crested Pochard and has been named the 'Punk Aythya'. I have not heard of the Tufted x Ferruginous Hybrid known locally the 'Fudge Duck' since 30 Nov 2011 after reporting its presence in the Langstone Harbour area for 12 consecutive winters. Smew: Strangely I have seen no reports from Kent or East Sussex since Jan 27 when one was in the Kent Stour valley following a sighting of 6 on the Weir Wood reservoir near Crowborough on Jan 26. Despite the apparent departure of the birds from their main wintering area in southern England other birds have remained in western counties. This week two redheads were still at the Longham Lakes (Bournemouth) up to Feb 7 (with one still there on Feb 9), one was still at the Blashford Lakes on Feb 9 and one was at the Exmouth marshes on Feb 9 while there had been an isolated report of 2 on the Roadford Reservoir (western edge of Dartmoor) on Feb 6.

Buzzard: Of local interest on Feb 7 Brian Fellows found a Buzzard being harrassed by Crows in Nore Barn Wood at Emsworth. In several past years Sparrowhawks have nested in this wood despite the high level of human activity and Buzzards have nested in the Warblington Farm area but I doubt they will try to nest here in the face of human and avian disturbance! Reeve's Pheasant: A report of a male seen on a farm in the Paignton area of Devon this week reminded me that it is a long time since I heard of Golden Pheasants being seen at Kingley Vale near Chichester and even longer since there was a population in the Butser Hill area near Petersfield. I think there is still a population of Golden Pheasants on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour (and there were sightings in the Brixham area of Devon last September) but the only Reeve's Pheasants that I heard of last year were seen at Shalfleet in the Isle of Wight in Jan 2012. To see how impressive a cock Reeve's can be see http://www.arkive.org/reevess-pheasant/syrmaticus-reevesii/ but beware that they are known to be aggressive to humans, nevertheless they are for sale on the internet (just £25 a pair) if you want to brighten up your garden and keep off unwanted visitors. Water Rail: There have been three recent sightings of one wintering by the River Ems at Emsworth but I see that on Feb 8 at least 8 different birds were located at the Fishlake Meadows near the River Test north of Romsey

Avocet: Just four were seen in Langstone Harbour this week on Feb 9 - this time the birds were on the lake within the western sea wall of the Farlington Marshes reserve.

Knot: On Feb 8 a flock of around 300 were seen in flight over Langstone Harbour.

Little Stint: A single wintering bird was seen at Rye Harbour on Feb 9

Temmincks Stint: One of these was also seen in Somerset on Feb 8

Curlew Sandpiper: And one of these was in the Exe estuary area on Feb 2, 3, and 7.

Ruff: Reports of these at six regular winter sites this week but more interesting was a sighting of 1 flock of 31 which arrived on the fields north of Pagham Harbour on Feb 4 - several of them already showing signs of breeding plumage and their arrival indicating they were on the return journey to their breeding places which could even be in Scotland.

Bonaparte's Gull: The relatively tame bird which has been on a lake in Prince's Park at Eastbourne since Jan 27 was still there on Dec 9. If you want to see it for yourself you can do so by visiting the Three Amigo's blog at http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/2013/02/08/3927/ which has excellent photos taken by one or more of Mark Cutts and Steve Copsey (who seems to have suddenly returned from the Antarctic)

Common Gull: On Feb 8 Barry Yates at Rye Harbour commented on seeing a Common Gull dropping shellfish onto stones to break them open - we have all seen Crows and Herring Gulls doing this but Barry thinks this is a newly acquire habit for Common Gulls - I must say I have not seen them doing this.

Guillemots: These are now back at breeding cliffs in Devon (Berry Head) and Dorset (Durlston) and Dungeness has reported large numbers heading east (10,440 in one hour on Feb 3 but that was followed by 8000 west in 90 minutes on Feb 6).

Turtle Dove: The wintering bird that was seen in a north Devon garden on Jan 16 and 20 was still there (Connor Downs area between Hayle and Camborne) on Feb 7.

Long-eared Owl: Early on the morning of Feb 8 Tim Doran was on the western seawall at Farlington Marshes when he disturbed an Owl which flew off a short way but raised its ear-tufts when confronted by a Buzzard before settling on a post where it sat in full view in sunshine for 30 minutes during which Tim could clearly see the orange eyes and the continuation of breast marking onto the belly area which distinguish Long from Short-eared Owls. This was presumably a bird which has been wintering on the continent and was having a rest after crossing the channel.

Hoopoe: The bird which has been in the Hamworthy area of Poole since Jan 25 was still there on Feb 5 but has not been reported since.

Woodlark: First song has been heard 'somewhere in Sussex' on Feb 4 as birds return to breeding sites.

Waxwing: Still 15 reports this week with flocks of 30 in Fleet (north Hampshire), 27 at Durrington (West Sussex) and 26 at Merley (Dorset). Locally two were seen by Purbrook Way in Leigh Park on Feb 8.

Fieldfare: Flocks of up to 300 still around (in north Hampshire, Pevensey Levels and Sandwich Bay) with reports from as far west as Devon and east to Sandwich Bay.

Redwing: Ten reports this week with slightly smaller numbers than Fieldfare but up to 120 in north Hampshire and mention of an influx at Sandwich Bay.

Chiffchaff: First mention of song heard in north Kent on Feb 9.

Greenfinch: These have been vocal for some time but by Feb 4 I heard more or less full song on Portsdown Hill.

Reed Bunting: First song heard by Peter Raby on Feb 9 from a male (with three females nearby) on the Warblington Farm fields east of Havant.

Vagrants: Late news for Feb 2 of a possible Black Woodpecker at Folkestone. When I put Black Woodpecker in Britain into Google I learnt of a paper written in 1959 by the eminent Richard Fitter suggesting that there had been quite a few reports of the species in Britain (make your own mind up after reading http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=156190)

Escapes: The presence of an Eagle Owl on the roof of a house in Storrington (near Pulborough) was first reported on Feb 2 and on Feb 7 a further report appeared on the SOS news site saying that the bird was still there but that local residents were threatening to shoot it for fear that it would take their pets or even attack children. Hopefully the bird will survive but the story reminds me of a similar Eagle Owl story in Hampshire when the police were involved and developed a cunning plan to persuade the owl to attack a decoy Police Dog when they would be ready to net the bird. All went to plan and when the bird was eventually re-united with its owner it turned out that the owl had been kept in a household which also had an Alsatian dog with which the Owl used to play and that when the owl swooped on the Police Dog it was with purely playful intentions.

INSECTS

Butterflies: Brimstone: One seen in Pamber Forest near Basingstoke on Jan 27

Red Admiral: One seen in Pamber Forest on Jan 27 and another in Havant (near the Civic Offices) on Jan 30

Comma: One seen in Cosham on Jan 2

Other Insects Flies: On Feb 9 Rob Chapman was in the Calshot area and found a number of flies attracted to the flowers of Winter Heliotrope including the Marmelade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) and some Flesh Flies (Calliphora vicina) which are almost identical to Blue Bottles. For the original account and photos see http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/still-not- getting-out/

PLANTS Unusual Moss species: If you are interested in mosses see Graeme Lyons latest blog entry at http://analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/i- fell-in-love-with-ghyll-stream.html describing his visit to a small stream rapily descending a valley called a 'ghyll' just west of Hastings on Feb 3

Black Spleenwort: Brian Fellows found an unexpected site for this plant on a wall in Noth Street near the Emsworth Rail Station last year and has been back to check on it this week - for his photo of the site see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x864-ferns-north-street- 08.02.13.jpg or search through his diary entries for an item on Ferns in the Feb 8 entry at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-wildlife-diary.htm

Mouse-ears: These plants come in many forms of which two are very common - Sticky and Common Mouse-ear - and both have similar flowers and leaves though the flowers of Sticky Mouse-ear grow in tight clusters while those of Common Mouse-ear grow separately, each flower having its own flower stem. When the plants are mature there should be no difficulty in separating them but I have found in the past that when I return to a site that seemed to be composed of Sticky Mouse-ear a few days earlier it now seems to consist of Common Mouse- ear. This conundrum seems to have occurred again at a site in Emsworth where Brian Fellows found and photographed plants of Sticky Mouse-ear (the photos show the characteristics of this species) but when I visited the site just two days later I could only find plants looking like Common Mouse-ear. It could well be that we saw different plants in different areas of the site but I am wondering if it is possible that Common Mouse-ear starts to flower before the flower stems are fully grown so a plant which starts to open its flower buds when they are all tightly grouped and look like Sticky Mouse-ear rapidly grow individual flower stems making the plant look like Common Mouse-ear. I hope to resolve this dilemma before too long! Spurge Laurel: John Goodspeed found this in flower on Feb 5 in Markwells Wood on the ridge above Idsworth Chapel north of Finchdean.

Alexanders: This had started to flower on the southern slope of Portsdown on Feb 4 and later in the week I learnt from the Rye Bay website that the plant is host to the larva of a fly called Euleia heraclei which can feed through the winter on the leaves of this plant (as well as on Celery and Hogweed) which remain green through the winter. I learnt more about this fly and its habits from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euleia_heraclei and about the look of the leaf-mines from http://creativedevon.ning.com/photo/euleia-heraclei-tephritid-fly-celery-fly- leaf-mine-in-alexanders.

Lesser Periwinkle: The most colourful new flower found this week was seen in Pitts Copse (south of the Stansted Forest Redwood Groves) on Feb 7 with a better show of more easily accessible flowers found on Feb 8 on the hedgebank of Southleigh Road immediately east of the East Leigh Road junction in the Denvilles area of Havant.

OTHER WILDLIFE Roe Deer: These normally rest during the day under cover but a bunch of ten or so that have been present in the fields north of the busy A27 between Havant and Emsworth for a good many years seem to have found that they are less subject to disturbance if they lie up for the day well away from the cover offered by the hedges surrounding this large area of flat open fields. When, on Feb 8, I cycled along the Southleigh Road which forms the northern boundary of this area the thick hedge between the road and the fields prevents any casual view of the fields but by going a short way down the approach road to Southleigh Farm I had an unobstructed view over the eastern half of these fields and saw ten Roe lying on the ground (with their heads up) well away from the field edges, ready to take flight from the appoach of any potential threat. This is where I saw a bunch of 11 back in 2004 so I guess they are well established here. A similar group of Roe can be seen on the wide open fields of north Hayling between Northney and Stoke villages but they have trees and hedges out in the centre of the area in which they can take cover.

Water Voles: There have been many more sightings of these in the River Ems at Brook Meadow in Emsworth so far this year than in the same period of previous years but I think this is more the result of having more human watchers present for more hours than a dramatic increase in the number of voles (the weather of course has also contributed). One of the results has been a proliferation of intimated photos of the voles enjoying a (mostly) undisturbed existence and one photo which I particularly liked was taken by Brian Fellows on Feb 8 - see http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x864-water-vole-eat-D- 08.02.13.jpg

Frogspawn: The first spawn that I have heard of this year appeared in two places, both on Feb 4, and both in garden ponds. One was in Waterlooville, the other in Fareham.

Adder: Another first for the year, also on Feb 4, was the first sighting of an Adder, newly out of hibernation, basking in the sun on the cliffs at Durlston. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR FEB 4 - 10 (WEEK 6 OF 2013)

Fri 8 Feb

Have Rooks abandoned Emsworth? Over the past thirty years Rooks have gradually moved out of Emsworth abandoning nests in trees where Pook Lane crosses the A27 and by the Brookfield Hotel but the rookery behind the council flats at the west end of Victoria Road which was in active use last year seemed silent and abandoned when I went to check it today (having seen activity at the Forestside Church rookery yesterday) and that ties in with the fact that I have not seen any Rooks among the Crows on the Warblington Farm fields since February 2012 (though I have not looked for them) Also today I looked at the Southleigh Farm area where a good half dozen Lesser Periwinkle flowers could be seen on the south facing hedgebank immediately east of the East Leigh/Southleigh Road junction in the Denvilles area of Havant. While in that area I went a little way down the approach road to Southleigh Farm where I could get a clear view of the large flat fields forming the east half of the Havant-Emsworth gap. There, well out in the open from the Horndean Road housing and the A27, and looking as if this was their permanent daytime resting place, were ten Roe Deer lying (but alert) on the ground. Thu 7 Feb Lesser Periwinkle in flower This morning I had a look round the Stansted Groves area in the hope of seeing a Tree Creeper but had no luck with that bird though Nuthatches were vocal and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming. I also saw that some new Redwood Trees (I assume that is what they are) have been planted at the top end of the main path (the final tree is different and I could not identify it). Before leaving the area I had a look round the part of Pits Copse close to the main track leading to Racton Folly and was delighted to find just one open Lesser Periwinkle flower on the tens of thousands of plants covering the floor of the copse - also new to me was a small collection of Polypody Ferns growing on the mossy trunk of a Hawthorn tree overhanging the ditch separating the main track from the copse. I then drove north to Forestside Church where Rooks have already started building their nests. Here, in Stansted Forest, I hoped I might add Marsh Tit to my yearlist but again no luck

Tue 5 Feb A windy walk to Budds Farm A walk to the shops this morning included a quick look at St Faith's churchyard where the Sweet Violets are now numerous and vibrant in colour but my main interest was to see that a lot more flowers are now opening on the Ivy-leaved Speedwell clustered in the small patch of bare earth st the base of the trunk of one of the Lime trees around the periphery of the area. After lunch bright sunshine encouraged me out despite the strong and chill west wind. My route was down the Billy Trail where I was able to see two flower buds on the Japanese Honeysuckle before, nearing the main road, I thought I saw a motionless Mistle Thrush on the churned up mud just inside the vehicle entrance gate to the field on my left. As I got my binoculars out the bird flew off, confirming the impression that it was a Mistle Thush but I never saw it again to prove the point. In searching for it, however, I found there were three Redwings in the field with a small flock of around a dozen Blackbirds plus a couple of Little Egrets working in unison (possibly already paired?) and an adult Grey Heron having a magnificent plume on its head indicating that it was probably already breeding (though as I have mentioned recently the Herons that are normally a permanent feature of Langstone Pond have totally vanished, presumably now being based at one of the two heronries, either at Tournerbury on south Hayling or in Oak Park Wood north of Itchenor). There were relatively few birds along the exposed South Moors shore (where Gadwall outnumbered Brent) and numbers at the Budds Farm Pools had also thinned out (no Pochard, just a couple of Tufted Duck and two or three Shoveler with larger numbers of Mallard and Gadwall. A possible reason for the low numbers was that the track along the south shore of the pools has recently been cleared of the scrub that had nearly overgrown it and numerous heavy vehicle tracks indicated that several large and presumably noisy vehicles had been involved. Heading home along the south end of Southmoor Lane both Cherry Plum and Goat Willow were in full flower but nothing else caught my eye until I was back in Havant and saw a Grey Wagtail in the Homewell Springs stream where it runs along the northern boundary of Bosmere School - in past years a pair have nested somewhere in this area.

Mon 4 Feb A walk on Portsdown gives me two new flowering plants for my yearlist A strong wind almost dissuaded me from visiting the exposed top of Portsdown this morning but when I got to Fort Widley and scanned the extensive views to both north and south I knew that I would enjoy being out in the sunshine even if I found nothing of interest. As it was I found 14 plants in flower and saw just 9 bird species and one fungus - a fresh cluster of Velvet Shank. The wind reduced the number of bird species but I did enjoy a passing troop of Long-tailed Tits and heard Greenfinch song in several places, twice from birds perched on the topmost twigs of Hawthorn tree from which they could survey potential territories more easily than by making their normal butterfly like figure-of-eight display flights. My route took me east from the Mill Lane carpark on the west side of Fort Widley along the lowest paths to the London Road, up the hill and then back on the top of the northern slopes. My main target was to find Alexanders in flower beside the London Road and I succeeded in this with a few plants flowering under the 'For Sale' signs outside the Caravan Park (normally I find the earliest plants near the bus stop north of the entrance but today they were all downhill of the Caravan Park entrance). Another thing that I normally see here are Rooks in the Rookery trees behind the caravans but today there were none, just a few Crows and Jackdaws. No sign of early Cowslips on the steep roadside bank as I turned west along the Hill Road but plenty of Butcher's Broom flowers under the trees along the path on the north side of the road where it passes the 'Viewpoint' carpark but nothing else of interest until I emerged from the path round the back of Fort Widley and was in sight of my parked car and had a pleasant surprise in finding a large plant of Dove's Foot Cranesbill flowering at the foot of a rubbish bin which had sheltered in through the winter. This was my second addition to my yearlist. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JAN 28 - FEB 3 (WEEK 05 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: The biggest count of Red-throated this week was just 107 at Ouistreham on the French Normandy coast with a peak of 8 at Selsey on our side of the Channel. Black-throated, which are normally seen singly, appeared as a group of 5 at Falmouth, equalling the peak number of Great Northern seen at Torbay. No reports of Pacific Diver this week but a White-billed Diver was in Orkney Grebes: A raft of 2000 Great Crested remained on the sea off Dungeness and just one Red-necked was seen at Falmouth (Cornwall). Seven Slavonian were seen at Selsey and eight were in Portland Harbour leaving Hampshire a peak of 5 off Lymington. The only substantial count of Black-necked on the English south coast was of 15+ at Falmouth though two remained at the Blashford Lakes Shag: One off the Eastney shore at the mouth of Langstone Harbour already had a full breeding crest on Feb

Bittern: Two reports this week of sightings at places where they have not been seen before (Cherque near Gosport and Pett Level) this winter may imply that the birds are already moving from winter to breeding sites and this is backed up by the RSPB website which says .. "Male bitterns begin to boom as early as late January to establish territories and attract mates. Some males are polygamous, and occasionally several nests, each built by a different female, are found within the territory of one calling male. There is no pair-bond as such, and the male normally takes no part in nest building or raising the young."

Spoonbill: One has been wandering along the west Solent shore this week, maybe in search of a mate or territory

Red-breasted Goose: The Farlington bird which has been in the Thorney Island area since Jan 13, was still reported on Feb 2 to be on Thorney Island in the Eames Farm fields west of the Army checkpoint near the Great Deeps.

Pintail: When I walked round Farlington Marshes on Feb 1 there was a noticeable increase in the number of Pintail, possibly indicating a movement back towards their breeding sites. Although there were probably no more than 50 birds at Farlington I see that there had been a similar increase at the Blashford Lakes from a previous peak of 174 on Jan 19 to 400 on Jan 27

Smew: In recent winters few Smew have flown further west than the Rye Bay area but this winter reports during January have come from the Isle of Wight, Blashford Lakes, Longham Lakes at Bournemouth, Falmouth and on Feb 1 a further sighting in Romsey

Common Crane: A group of seven seem to have been present in the Medway area of north Kent since at least Jan 22 but they have only been reported three times (on Jan 22, 25 and Feb 1). These are certainly not the only Cranes in England (there is currently another single in Kent and on Jan 25 a second group of 7 were seen in Worcestershire) but little news gets out about the small breeding colony that has been established in Norfolk since 1981 (first recorded breeding). Checking the BTO Bird Facts page for this species (which was updated in Jan 2013) I see that 13 or 14 pairs now breed there and that we have up to 50 individuals in England during the winter

Avocet: On Jan 29 16 Avocet were in the Broom Channel of Langstone Harbour running up the west side of Farlington Marshes into Portscreek under the Eastern Road bridge and 12 were seen there again on Jan 30 but there have been no other reports this week

Golden Plover: More than 3000 were at Maiden Castle in Dorset on Jan 26 and 3100 were at Wadebridge in Cornwall on Jan 30 with smaller flocks in the Titchfield area and flying over the New Forest - possibly an indication of birds gathering into large flocks for the journey north?

Short-eared Owl: Two have been seen this week, hunting over the Hayling Island Golf Course at dusk, from the Ferry Road passing The Kench on Hayling Island

Hoopoe: The bird which appeared in the Bournemouth area on Jan 26 was still there on Feb 2

Waxwing: Only two reports in Hampshire this week - on Jan 26 two were seen in the centre of Leigh Park at Havant and on Feb 2 a party of 8 were by the slip road from the A3 to the A272 west of Petersfield. In Sussex eleven were still present in the Portslade area of Brighton on Feb 3 while the last report from Fishbourne (just west of Chichester) was of 33 there on Feb 2 when 18 were at Angmering on the A259 east of Chichester.

Wheatear: One seen at Holes Bay (Poole Harbour) on Jan 27 has not been re- found - my best guess is that it was a very early migrant arrival which has pushed on northward.

Fieldfare: It seems that the large numbers which were being pushed south into southern England in the previous week have greatly diminished (presumably many have flown south across the channel). The last reports of big flocks seem to have been of 500 in the Pagham Harbour north fields on Jan 28 and of 1000 in the Kent Stour Valley on Jan 29. The biggest flocks since then have been 200 on the Pevensey Levels on Jan 30 and 45 in the Itchen Valley near Eastleigh on Feb 1

Firecrest: On Feb 1 photographs of the bird at Brook Meadow in Emsworth showed that there were at least two birds present as one photograph was of a male with a red tinge to its crest and another showed the less colourful crest of a female.

Marsh Tit: A report from the West Dean Woods (north of Chichester) on Feb 1 mentioned - "many Marsh Tits calling and feeding. They appeared to be eating moss that had grown along branches - or something in the moss, spitting out what they didn't like .." which suggests to me that the birds might have been collecting nest material though the species does not normally start nesting until late April

Chaffinch song: Although the first song was reported last week (Jan 26 at Lyndhurst) the first general outburst of song was heard this week, first at Durlston on Jan 29 and then at Henfield in Sussex and Emsworth in Hampshire on Jan 30

Common Rosefinch: A 'probable' was reported from Broadstone (northern fringe of Poole in Dorset) on Jan 28. See http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=161083 for latest UK Sightings of this species which normally occur in the autumn with none shown as occurring between Oct and May so this was proabably a mis-identification.

Lapland Bunting: Late news from Cornwall shows that a flock of 20 seen at Treen (in the 'toe' of Cornwall) on Jan 21 is the highest count for anywhere in the south of England so far this year though RBA reported a total of 107 in the UK on Sep 22 last autumn Vagrants: On Jan 30 RBA reported a Black-browed Albatross off the Irish coast of County Clare and this could possibly be the same bird that has been returning to British waters in search of a mate each year since 1967 - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6641021.stm though the BTO says that individual has not been seen since 1995. For last year's British records see http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=010007 Foreign reports: Species photographed by Steve Copsey from HMS Protector on ice patrol duty in the Antarctic during the past week have been Sooty & Great Shearwaters, Cape and White Chinned Petrels - for the photos and commentary see http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/

INSECTS Butterflies: Red Admiral: Three sightings on Jan 30, two in Emsworth and one in Worthing

Peacock: Two reports this week. On Jan 23 one was disturbed from the warmth of a kiln shed at a Burgess Hill (Haywards Heath) tile factory and on Jan 29 one was more typically disturbed when clearing out a garden shed in the Waterlooville area

Comma: One seen at Bracklesham on the Sussex shore west of Selsey Bill on Jan 3

Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris): One seen and photographed on the Emsworth shore near Nore Barn on Jan 31 can be seen at http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-x872-bumblebee-terrertris- BL-31.01.13.jpg - this is a worker out collecting pollen for larvae in a nearby nest and the amount of pollen in the sac on the bee's rear leg shows it was doing a good job.

PLANTS Early Dog Violet: Self sown plants in my garden started to open their first flowers on Jan 25 but none were fully open until Feb 2

Hedgerow Cranesbill: I continue to be amazed by the plants growing on a tiny bit of bare soil in the Havant Bus Station - these have seemingly never stopped flowering for a couple of years but while the flowers were originally all pure white they have recently started reverting to the normal purplish colour and when I checked them on Feb 1 all the flowers were of this colour

Cherry Plum: This started general flowering on Jan 28 when it could be seen at the southern end of Southmoor Lane near Budds Farm and at the shore end of Wade Lane in Langstone. By Feb 1 several more trees were out beside Harts Farm Way at Broadmarsh

Yellow Flowered Strawberry: No flowers can currently be seen at the Juniper Square site in Havant but on Jan 28 I found a good show at a second site beside the Langbrook Stream just south of the Langstone Technology Park approach road where recent tree thinning has let in light.

Ivy-leaved Speedwell: The very hairy plants of this species have been appearing in many places recently but the first sight of flowers (in fact just buds) was seen in Havant St Faith's churchyard on Feb 1

Giant Butterbur (Petasites japonicus): First flowers seen on Jan 28 at the site where they were planted in the 1980s by ecologists working for IBM at their newly acquired Havant Plant site (now Langstone Technology Park). The first leaves of the female Butterbur plants which they also introduced are also now up but there is no sign of the flowering spikes (unlike the common male plants whose flower spikes are already pushing up above ground at Brook Meadow in Emsworth).

OTHER WILDLIFE Fox: January is the month in which foxes normally mate but this year the first mention of this activity (which normally attracts attention through the nocturnal howling of the vixens and fights among the males) did not catch my eye until Jan 31 when Birders in Cornwall happened to see a pair of Foxes mating. Checking on the facts of life for this species I see that there is a 53 day gestation period followed a month in which the four or five cubs become increasingly less dependent on their mother for warmth, allowing her to leave the den to search for food (in the first couple of weeks food is brought to the den by males) and roughly three months after the mating the cubs start to emerge from the den - this year the offspring of that mating will not be seen until the very end of April or early May. Another factor that is likely to influence the appearance of Fox cubs this spring is the waterlogged condition of the ground which must make some dens unuseable though I understand that Foxes will adapt to this by giving birth in any suitable dry place (such as an unused farm building). Unlike Badgers they do not feel compelled to use 'traditional' setts. Fungi: Species attracting attention this week were Jelly ear on Elder at Brook Meadow in Emsworth; Velvet Shank on the tree immediately down stream from the footbridge over the Langbrook stream from Mill Lane onto the Langstone South Moors (regular immersion of these in water at high tide has changed their colour from the normal bright yellow and black to an overall drab brown); and a great show of large bracket fungi (probably Ganoderma adspersum) on the old Horse Chestnut trees near the Toilet block in Havant town park. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JAN 28 - FEB 3 (WEEK 5 OF 2013)

Sat 2 Feb

Ivy-leaved Speedwell starts to flower in Havant After lunch I took a walk around Havant to tick off plants flowering in February, finding 22 species among which were a fresh plant of Cow Parsley, fresh buds opening on a White Comfrey plant next to the one which has been the sole plant flowering through the past month, and the first flower buds of the year on Ivy- leaved Speedwell of which I checked plants in several clusters of apparently full grown plants before finding buds on a couple of plants in St Faith's churchyard. I was less successful in my search for any sign of flowers on the Danish Scurvygrass despite risking my life in walking along the narrow central reservation of Park Road South between the fast moving traffic but I was not disappointed with the Hedgerow Cranesbill in the Bus Station which seems to flower in evey month of the year and whose flowers, which were pure white for the first year or more, are now becoming increasingly purplish as they revert to their natural hue.

Fri 1 Feb A walk round Farlington Marshes adds four bird species to my year list Despite light rain when I woke the air was mild and birds around the garden were in spring mood with the local Song Thrush singing strongly; the Blackbird who owns the area just outside the back door was on boundary duty ensuring that an intruder did not cross the invisible line into his part of the lawn; and two amorous Wood Pigeons were taking time out from eating to perform a display that I have not seen before, bouncing across the ground with stiff-legged hops to bow their puffed up breasts to the ground in front of the intended mate. It was still raining when I drove to the Broadmarsh carpark for the start of my walk but the rain ceased as I got out of the car. Just before turning into the carpark I saw at least two Cherry Plum trees covered with blossom along the side of Harts Farm Way but this was not a day for flower hunting though on the way back from Farlington I did find a couple of plants of Ox-eye Daisy still in flower and everywhere the bright yellow of the Gorse flowers brightened the dull day. My first good bird came half way along the cycle track section - this was a small flock of Ringed Plover - but there was nothing else new until I was half-way round the sea wall and a Helicopter overhead put up a flock of Meadow Pipits which I am surprised to see are not already on my list. This came after a vain search for Avocets in Broom Channel where I found a good show of Pintail, and not long before I reached the Point where I heard Cetti's Warbler as I was watching the third new bird - a smart Slavonian Grebe seen clearly through my telescope. The fourth new bird was a female Stonechat flitting along the seawall vegetation as I passed the Deeps. These four bring my bird yearlist to 86.

Wed 30 Jan Chaffinch song, my first Nuthatch and Stock Dove, plus a pretty Lichen This morning I walked to Warblington Farm and Nore Barn with some glorious sunshine after a short shower. First bonus came as I was crossing Wade Court Road and heard an excited Nuthatch in trees opposite North Close. I suspect this was a bird which has probably nested here for two or three years but it very difficult to detect except by its calls (and it is only vocal in the spring). Last year I heard it here on both Mar 21 and May 16 and in 2011 I heard it just once on Apr 8. I suspect the reason for it being vocal today was the presence of a Great Spotted Woodpecker which I also heard calling and which was possibly thinking of using a nest hole which the Nuthatch had its eye on. The Nuthatch was number 80 on my year list and when I got to the Warblington Old Rectory area I added number 81 with a genuine Stock Dove on one of the trees in which they regularly nest (in case anyone wants to accuse me of 'false listing' I must admit that I still have what I thought was Stock Dove on my list as number 77 under the name Rock Dove - I am pretty sure now that was a group of three high class domestic pigeons retaining the full plumage of their Rock Dove ancestor (had they been the normal tatty Feral Pigeons I would have felt ashamed to have them on my list!). Pressing on past Warblington Church I found the slippery mud of the Church Path towards Emsworth very difficult going and was very glad I had a stout stick and also glad that I could leave the path half way across the large field and take the unofficial route across the field to the south and on into the Conigar Point field. Here the only weed still in flower was Field Madder and the only bird to get into the air as I approached was a single Skylark whose chirruping was getting close to being continuous song. On the southern hedge two small birds sihouetted against the sky turned out to be a pair of Reed Buntings and out on the shore with the tide rising there was a small collection of Brent, Shelduck and Wigeon. Reaching Nore Barn I met up with Brian Fellows and we spent some time looking at lichens on the Blackthorn which lines the seaward edge of the wood. One which particularly caught our attention was a bright yellow in colour with leafy parts of a striking orange red. Brian will probably have a photo of it on his website this evening (See http://www.emsworthwildlife.hampshire.org.uk/0-0-0-wildlife- diary.htm ) When I got home I found a potential candidate for its identity in Xanthoria parietina of which you can see a photo at http://www.irishlichens.ie/images/lichen/l-11a4.jpg and if you want to read about some of its uses (as a cure for jaundice and as a yellow dye) or its reproductive process (in which it has to assemble both the lichen and algal elements of its symbiosis) see http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the- day/biodiversity/climate-change/xanthoria-parietina/index.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthoria_parietina Reaching the Maisemore Gardens stream the Spotted Redshank was showing well and the sunshine lit its changing plumage (already less pale below and more striate above - especially towards the wing tips). Also here we saw fresh leaves of the English Scurvygrass which will flower on the saltings. Leaving Brian and walking back along the north side of the wood I stopped to listen to my first Chaffinch practicing its first song which it did repeatedly but never quite managed the final flourish. Just one more noteworthy observation was of bird number 82 for my yearlist - this was a Siskin and I saw it as I was going up the footpath from Nore Barn to the main Havant-Emsworth Road. The path was more or less a stream and the bird may have come down to have a drink but after it had flown off I found that the area where it had been was littered with catkins from a tree in the hedge above so the Siskin may have been finishing off its meal after knocking the catkins down to the ground.

Mon 28 Jan Cherry Plum blossom marks the start of Spring Early sunshine had clouded over by the time I got out this morning and I had a slightly wet and very windy walk to the South Moors and Budds Farm but the walk also gave me several signs that we have emerged from the frost and snow and are now heading for the general renewal of life (though there's a long way to go yet!). There was little to get excited about until I reached the Langstone Roundabout area where I had my first glimpse of the leaves of Danish Scurvygrass in the central reservation of Park Road though I had ticked fresh Hairy Bittercress and Greater Periwinkle flowers in Juniper Square but I had also found that the Cow Parsley which has been flowering outside Bosmere School has vanished. The first surprise came when I had just crossed the Langstone Technology Park approach road and entered the path beside the Langbrook Stream - here some recent tree felling had let in more light and that had brought on a display of Yellow-flowered Strawberry flowers and Snowdrops. Nothing more (though lots of mud) until south of The Mallards housing where the 'No Man's Land' before reaching the track into the old Langstone Dairy Farm had the Giant Butterbur (Petasites japonicus) now in flower and a good show of fresh leaves (only) of the female Butterbur. Out on the South Moors the ground was water sodden and the strong wind was discouraging but I persevered in crossing the orchid field without getting wet feet and was rewarded with just one Marsh Marigold plant having three fresh flowers. Nothing more until I reached Southmoor Lane where the Goat Willow tree over the exit gate from the Moors was fully clothed with golden flowering Pussy-paw catkins and out beside the road several of the Cherry Plum trees had branches covered with open and opening flowers. Up at the view point above the Budds Farm Pools I counted 72 Gadwall and perhaps 40 Teal but few Mallard and only two Tufted Duck and one Pochard with not a single Shoveler - I strongly suspect that that recent rain has raised the water level above the point at which the Shoveler feeding technique of paddling round to stir up food items from the bottom of the pool is successful. Along the South Moors shore the wind and choppy water at the top of the tide meant that the only birds were Black-headed Gulls picking items out of the breaking waves from the air and a few Brent well away from the water in the old IBM Playing Fields but Mill Lane still had a good show of Japanese Spindle berries and, nearing the main road, I could see the leaves of Hairy Garlic which had seemed to disappear in the autumn. At Langstone Mill Pond I saw five Little Egrets and the Swan Pair but when I reached Wade Lane and headed inland I found a lot more Cherry Plum blossom and was surprised by three Cow Parsley plants in flower. Emerging from the tunnel of the Lane the scent of Winter Heliotrope was strong and after crossing over to the Billy Trail I not only noticed an increase in the number of Lesser Celandine flowers but also had my first sight of leaves that I am pretty sure were those of Ivy-leaved Speedwell though they had not yet acquired their distinctive hairiness and certainly had no sign of flowers.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JAN 21 - 27 (WEEK 04 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: Reports of Red-throated Divers seen in flocks of many hundreds passing Dungeness and in thousands off the Netherlands and French coast which are commonplace at this time of year may be read with scepticism by birders on the English south coast so I was interested to read in Bernie Forbes account of what his group saw from Ferring Beach in the Worthing area on Jan 24 .. "Offshore a hovercraft powered by approx two miles out going east and put up a huge flock of Red-throated Divers that flew east and then turned and flew back west. We both counted 60 birds in one single flock, a record for all of us and a truly amazing sight!" .. I wonder how Bernie would re-act to seeing the flock of 3639 of these birds that was reported off The Hague in the Netherlands on Jan 9. This week brought just four reports of single Black-throated, none on our central south coast, but Great Northern were seen at Selsey, the mouths of Chichester and Langstone Harbours with 5 in Poole Harbour and in Carrick Roads at Falmouth. Also in Cornwall there was a further probable sighting of the Pacific Diver off Penzance. Grebes: Jan 26 brought the first report of a pair of Great Crested Grebes displaying to each other at Weir Wood reservoir near Crowborough. Jan 21 found a single Red-Necked in the mouth of Chichester Harbour and on Jan 26 one was in Christchurch Harbour. Also on Jan 21 four Slavonian were in the mouth of Chichester Harbour and on Jan 25 one had progressed up the Thorney Channel towards Prinsted and Nutbourne Bay. The Arlington Reservoir bird remained there but we had a report of two in the west Solent at Park Shore between Lymington and the Beaulieu River with another two in Portland Harbour and four in Carrick Roads at Falmouth where the biggest group of Black-necked (15 of them) was seen. The Hayling Oysterbeds had a peak of 14 on Jan 24 and on Jan 26 Stokes Bay at Gosport was an unusual venue for one to be seen. Storm Petrel: The first report of this species for the year came on Jan 22 from a Swanage Garden where it was picked up, weak but alive, but died soon after.

Bittern: Reported from 12 diffeent sites this week including one on the Sussex Downs which I am not familiar with and did not know had suitable habitat - this is the Rifle Range at Steyning, north of Worthing which I have usually come across as a butterfly site good for Brown Hairstreak.

Grey Heron: I have not seen a Heron at Langstone Pond since Jan 3 and my last sighting anywhere was of one flying over my house on Jan 16 with a Herring Gull in hot pursuit from which I concluded that both Herons and Herring Gulls are probably taking an interest in their breeding sites but it was not until Jan 26 that I saw a report confirming that Herons are now back at their nests. The report came from Weir Wood reservoir where there is an established Heronry and where the first Herons arrived at their nests on Jan 25 last year though they did not seem to start egglaying until Feb 23 (by Apr 8 some chicks had appeared in the 26 nests).

Spoonbill: The number seen together in Poole Harbour dropped from 16 to 14 this week and at least one took wing to appear on the Lymington shore on Jan 24 so we may soon see others on the move in the search for mates.

Bewick's Swan: The flock on the River Arun at Warningcamp near Arundel increased from 30 on Jan 18 to 39 on Jan 26. Maybe the newcomers included a pair which flew in through the Langstone Harbour entrance on Jan 24 but were not seen to land.

Whitefront Goose: A few newcomers have arrived in southern England this week. 93 turned up at Sandwich Bay on Jan 24 and they may account for the report of 68 at Rye Harbour next day (though there were still 87 at Sandwich). Probably part of the same movement were four seen at Farlington Marshes on Jan 22 and 8 at Brading on the IoW on Jan 25

Red-breasted Goose: Two different birds have been in Hampshire and West Sussex during this winter. One arrived on the Lymington marshes on Oct 24 and immediately moved to Farlington Marshes on Oct 25 where it stayed (shifting back and forth between the Marshes and various nearby grazing ares in Portsmouth) until Jan 12, after which it vanished from Langstone Harbour. The West Sussex bird made its first appearance by the River Adur near Upper Beeding on Dec 13, arriving in the company of ten Greylags and consorting with Greylags and Canada Geese throughout its stay which appeared to end on Dec 27. Several other birds of the same species have been in the UK this winter: the first I know of was on the north Kent coast on Oct 14 associating with Brent, and it is possible that this was the Farlington bird as it was last seen in Kent on Oct 23 and first appeared in Hampshire on Oct 24 though there could have been several migrant arrivals around this time as one appeared in Argyll on Oct 26 and maybe moved to Cumbria on Nov 16, staying there for at least two days, associating with Barnacles, before maybe moving on down the west coast to be seen in Cornwall on Nov 28. In January Lee Evans mentioned that there were four Red-breasted Geese together in Norfolk but I suspect that these originated in captivity. The latest part of the story takes place in Sussex. On Jan 13, the day after it was last seen at Farlington Marshes, one Red-breast was seen at Selsey Bill, flying east with other Brent at 09:15 am and then returning west, again in company with Brent, at 09:40 and I assume this flight took it to the airfield on Thorney Island where it was found among 1000 Brent on Jan 14, though a sighting of one in the Netherlands on Jan 14 could imply that (by some sort of smoke and mirrors trick) the Farlington bird had continued east and genuinely left the scene here - implying that the bird found on Thorney airfield was a newcomer, but I don't buy that. There is then a ten day gap in sightings which appears to show that our goose stayed hidden among the multitude of Brent on Thorney airfield (which can only be viewed from its distant periphery) until Barry Collins chanced to spot it on Jan 24. Having seen it Barry kept his eye on it for the rest of that day but neither he nor any of the birders who came to search for it have seen it since - that was true until today as Barry and others found it again on Jan 27 among Brent on Eames Farm fields (presumably near the Great Deeps and possibly visible to the public from the western seawall path or the Thorney Main Road). The final part of the story concerns the Adur valley bird which no one reported after Dec 27 but which mysteriously re-appeared by the Adur on Jan 25 for a one day stand. I suspect this bird may not have headed back to Siberia as its Greylag and Canada friends were not going to make that long journey but I am still expecting the Farlington/Thorney bird to do so. Gadwall: During my personal 'birding life' in Hampshire this species has increased phenomenally in numbers. One of my first specialist books on Hampshire birds was John Taverner's 'Wildfowl in Hampshire' (published 1962) in which the first sentence of the section on Gadwall reads .. "Apart from extreme rarities there is no more uncommon duck in Hampshire". For comparison he says that in 1957 there may have been as many as 100 Smew in the county wheres the total number of Gadwall known to have visited the county in the years 1945 to 1960 was 50 or less. This background explains my interest in a new site record for the number of 124 Gadwall seen at Sandwich Bay on Jan 24, especially as these were almost certainly new arrivals from the continent which will disperse to swell the numbers elsewhere in southern England where Gadwall are serious contenders for outnumbering Mallard. Green-winged Teal: On Jan 26 Colin Allen found one on Ivy Lake at Blashford and Simon Woolley commented that this was only the 2nd for Blashford, and the first for 33 years - Jan 12th 1980 was the last one, also on Ivy Lake. Although not a mega rarity a twitcher would probably have to go to Cornwall to find another at present. For a photo of the bird in Cornwall, showing the distinctive white vertical stripe immediately in front of the closed wing, go to http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5450/8411127215_e6e60b5bb7_z.jpg

Pintail: A report of 174 at the Blashford Lakes on Jan 19 was the highest count I had seen this year until today (Jan 27) when at least 400 and probably over 500 were present (maybe as a result of a duck shoot taking place in the nearby Avon valley).

Shoveler: Also maybe as a result of the shoot there were 1190 Shoveler at the Blashford Lakes today (Jan 27). This is not such a big increase as that of Pintail as there were 1070 Shoveler there on Jan 24.

Smew: At least one has been at the Blashford Lakes this week, and maybe some have been leaving us as singles were seen flying east over Hastings and Reculver (north Kent) during the week but a count of 6 at the Weir Wood reservoir near Crowborough on Jan 26 beat the previous winter peak for England of 5 at Dungeness on Dec 11.

Water Rail: Although there are plenty of these around currently - 5 reported at Gilkicker (Gosport) on Jan 21 and at Farlington Marshes Bob Chapman's Blog for Jan 26 says .. "The Point Field seemed filled with Water Rails as I could hear them calling all over the place" - these are not easy to see so a couple of sightings at Brook Meadow in Emsworth (with photos) are noteworthy as is a report from Exmoor on Jan 18 of one seen 20 feet up a tree (Moorhen frequently climb about in bushes and can be seen at low heights in trees but I have not heard of Water Rails doing so and I suspect that this bird may either have flown up in panic to escape a Fox or even to have landed in the tree at the end of a passage flight and been uncertain how to get down without attracting attention).

Common Crane: A party of seven at the north Kent Oare Marshes on Jan 22 was unexpected (though one had been seen on the Walland Marshes near Rye on Jan 1 and four were on the move in the Netherlands on Jan 22) but there was also a second report this week of one on the Pevensey Levels on Jan 24.

Avocet: Late news of 10 at Farlington Marshes on Jan 19 and of 4 somewhere in the Thorney Channel/Nutbourne Bay area on Jan 25.

Sanderling: The first substantial report of these roosting on the Southsea shingle (by the Pier near Southsea Castle) was of 250 there on Jan 26

Purple Sandpiper: Also seen at Southsea Castle on Jan 26 were 13 Purple Sandpipers (19 were there on Jan 7)

Woodcock: Two were seen at dusk on Sinah Common (south Hayling) on three evenings this week (Jan 19, 20 and 24)

Green Sandpiper: On Jan 22 I visited the Hermitage Stream running through the Stockheath area of Leigh Park and am pretty sure there were two resident Green Sandpiper (see http://ralph-hollins.net/Diary.htm#2201

Sandwich Tern: On Jan 24 four were seen on the Milton shore of Langstone Harbour and on Jan 25 two were see at the entrance to Chichester Harbour

Common Tern: A single Common Tern was seen at the Hayle estuary (north Cornwall) on Jan 20 and 21 and an Arctic Tern was reported to be in Carbis Bay (part of St Ives Bay, also in north Cornwall) on Jan 19. For the Common Tern photo see http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8405366124_d3dd90b681_z.jpg

Turtle Dove: One has been seen and photographed wintering in a Cornish Garden on Jan 16 and 20 - to see the photo go to http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8368/8390963487_d87103f84a_z.jpg

Hoopoe: Perhaps the most unexpected bird report of the week was of a Hoopoe in a Poole garden. First reported on Jan 23 it was still present on Jan 25.

Great Spotted Woodpecker: The first report of drumming came from Arundel on Jan 7 and by now I have twice heard one in the Wade Court area of Langstone (on Jan 19 and 21).

Woodlark: One slightly unexpected result of the recent cold weather has been the number of Woodlarks it has forced onto our awareness.On Jan 19 a total of 35 were seen at Christchurch Harbour (9 grounded and the rest flyng over) and on that day one was seen on the Portchester shore of Portsmouth Harbour while 5 had settled at the Sinah Warren stables on Hayling Island. On Jan 20 at least 20 birds were seen in Dorset and on Jan 23 a flock of 9 could be seen in Gosport on the HMS Sultan Polo Fields. Jan 24 found one close to Northney Church on Hayling, two in the Brownwich area near Titchfield, four at Christchurch Harbour and 5 at Milton Common at Southsea.

Skylark: Some unusually big flocks have been of over 2800 at Christchurch Harbour on Jan 19, 1000 at Portland on Jan 20 and 500 near Basingstoke also on Jan 20 with 500 also seen among an impressive collection of passerines near Danebury Hill in the Stockbridge area on Jan 24 (that flock included 100 Linnet, 80 Reed Bunting, 400 Yellowhammer, 40 Dunnock, 50 Corn Bunting and a male Hen Harrier) Waxwing: These were still being seen at 15 southern sites this week with Romsey having the peak count of 35 on Jan 25 followed by Poole in Dorset with 27 on Jan 24 and three sites each having 20 on Jan 21 or 22 (Portslade in Brighton, Lords Wood in Southampton, and Lytchett Matravers in Dorset)

Fieldfare: Top counts this week were 13,200 at Christchurch Harbour, 9550 over Climing near Worthing, 3900 at Durlston, 2170 on the Lymington Marshes, 2000 at Abbotsbury in Dorset, 1,370 at Northney on Hayling, 1067 in Southsea, 1025 at Newlands Farm south of Fareham, 1000 at Sinah Warren on Hayling, 1000 at Brownwich (Titchfield).

Song Thrush: A count of 700 on Portland on Jan 20

Redwing: Portland had 2000 on Jan 20 but generally numbers were low though there were 1600 at Christchurch Harbour, 1000 at Abbotsbury, 700 at Lymington, 400 in the Daw Lane area of Hayling and at Newlands Farm south of Fareham not forgetting 190 at Sway near New Milton.

Blackcap: First report of 'full song' came from Chandlers Ford (Eastleigh) on Jan 26.

Firecrest: Anyone wanting to see this lovely bird has a good chance of doing so at Brook Meadow in Emsworth - go to the Palmers Road carpark on the west side of the River Ems, make your way along paths through the trees to the west bank of the river and go as far north as you can until you are stopped by an 'observation screen' then wait patiently for the bird to appear (while there you may also see the Water Rail in the river's edge) When I saw the Firecrest on Jan 26 I also saw my first wintering Chiff Chaff of the year with Long-tailed Tits.

Rook: An impressive night roost of 800 birds could be seen assembling in the Allington Lane area on the West End area of Southampton's northern fringe on Jan 26.

Starling: An even more impressive night roost of an estimated 1 million birds in the East Youlstone area of Devon (north coast between Bideford and Bude) on Jan 20. East Youlstone is also currently the subject of a proposal for a large Wind Farm.

Chaffinch: First report of song for the year came from Lyndhurst in the New Forest on Jan 2

Linnet: A flock of over 1000 was seen on the Lymington marshes on Jan 23 but I see that there were 3000 at Ryland's Barn Farm at Martinstown in Dorset on Jan 19

Twite: One has been seen at Longwood Warren (east of Winchester) on Jan 4 and now a pair have been seen in the Ferring area of Worthing on Jan 24. Foreign Birds: Our weekly supply of photos and info about Antarctic birds courtesy of the Royal Navy (in the persons of Steve Copsey and Mark Cutts) can be seen at http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo . They currently feature Cinnamon Teal, Chiloe Wigeon, Turkey Vulture, Night Heron, Rock Shag, Falkland Skua, Upland Goose, White Tufted Grebe and Falkland Snipe with many more species as you scroll back through the pages

INSECTS No Dragonfly or Butterfly news this week

PLANTS Early Dog Violet: The first petal on a self sown plant in my garden started to unfurl and show its colour on Jan 25

Hawthorn blossom: Not quite open yet but several clusters of buds seen on Jan 22. See http://ralph-hollins.net/Diary.htm#2201 for more

Japanese Spindle fruits: The bright orange fruits of this shrub are now starting to appear. They first caught my eye on Jan 21 on the outer wall of the West Mill where Mill Lane at Langstone meets th Langbrook Stream.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JAN 21 - 27 (WEEK 4 OF 2013)

Sat 26 Jan

Spring sunshine adds a Firecrest to my yearlist Dawn to dusk sunshine after recent gloom, frost and snow made it seem that spring had arrived and I celebrated by taking a walk around Brook Meadow at Emsworth where I hoped to add Water Rail and Firecrest to my yearlist. That may have been asking for too much but I did have good views of the Firecrest and also saw a Chiffchaff, both of which were additions to my yearlist and brought it to 79 species. The Chiffchaff was with a troop of Long-tailed Tits so was probably just passing through the Meadow but may possibly be new to the Meadow for this year as the species only appears in the Meadow Birdlist as a summer visitor and does not seem to have been mentioned in the Meadow Diary page this year(though I had to rely on my own edited copy of the diary for the first half of the month as the period Jan 1 - 16 is not accessible online). When in Palmers Road copse near the Observation Fence (but looking back to the carpark) the sunshine picked out half a dozen bright orange-red berries which I could not identify but which appeared to be hanging by long single threads from the tall skeletal remains of umbellifers (probably Wild Angelica) and this left me puzzled. I suspect they were the berries of Black or White Bryony but as those normally appear in clusters I still do not understand why these were all singles seemingly coming from several well-separated plants. Fri 25 Jan The first wild Violet flower starts to open in my garden Viola reichenbachiana is sometimes called the Wood Dog Violet but it is also known as the Early Dog Violet and today's excitement in my garden was to see the lovely colour of the first flower starting to open. Soon the east end of the Havant Cemetery will be carpeted with these flowers - maybe they will start to appear before next week is out given the forecast warmth and rain. Another thing that I will be looking out for as a result of an item of bird news that I read today, saying that Blackcaps are particularly fond of the white berries of Mistletoe, is the presence of Blackcaps on and around the increasing number of Mistletoe clumps to be found in all sorts of places nowadays - first it will be necessary to eastablish if any of the berries, which I normally see before Christmas, are still to be found uneaten. One bird that would normally eat many of them is the Mistle Thrush which featured on Radio 4 Today programme early this morning - the BBC had picked its decline out of the publicity for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch scheduled for this weekend and I was woken with a start shortly after 6am when they played Mistle Thrush song (not once but twice!)

Fri 24 Jan Virgin birth in your garden? When checking the Dorset moth news (http://www.dorsetmothgroup.org.uk/latest_sightings.htm) this evening I was not surprised to find that the last report listed was dated Jan 19 and was of a single example of a species called Luffia ferchaultella (or, to give it it's new English name, Virgin Smoke). I was also intrigued by the fact that what was reported was not an actual moth but its 'larval case'. Checking the description of the species given in UK Moths website (and the similar accounts given by the Hants and Sussex Moth Groups) I learnt that this species belongs to a group called Bagworms (or Psychidae)because the larvae live in cases similar to those of Caddis Fly larvae but Luffia ferchaultella, while relatively common and widespread, has the distinction of apparently being a 'female only' species perpetuating itself by virgin birth (the authorities, which have known of this species since 1850, cover themselves by saying that no males have yet been discovered though the females might be fertilised by the males of a similar species in which the males are winged - but that species is confined to Cornwall which would mean that they have to fly to all corners of the British Isles and mate with the wingless females that live there without being detected by the many moth enthusiasts in each area). UK Moths says that the species is widespread and locally abundant in southern Britain, and goes on to say that the cased larvae feed, often gregariously, on lichen on tree trunks and, sometimes, on posts, sloe branches, or rocks. After the moth has emerged, the empty cases, about 6mm long, remain fully exposed on the trunk into the following spring when they can alert attention to the presence of the smaller occupied cases, often concealed in crevices. It might be of interest to familiarise yourself with the species and see if you can find it locally - for pictures of what you are looking for see http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=3034 or for a more comprehensive account of a survey carried out in Nottinghamshire (and covering several confusion species) see http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds2/mothspsychids.htm A few further bits of info picked up when investigating this species include the fact that the females of one species of Bagworm which is fertilised by a flying male never gets round to laying her eggs but dies with them inside her body from which they happily emerge through her decaying flesh after her death. Should a fertilised female of this or any other species be eaten by a bird the species does not suffer as her eggs are tough enough to survive passing through the bird's gut, and being scattered in the bird's droppings helps to spread the species better than the winglesss female could do on her own. Going back to the 'Virgin' species it has also been useful to science as a tool in monitoring atmospheric pollution - larvae which have absorbed harmful pollution from e.g. traffic fumes have reduced appetites for food and careful measurement of the reduction in their food consumption against the amount eaten by larvae not subject to pollution gives a useful measure of the pollution. Another fascinating fact is that most of the males which are strong flyers only live long enough to carry out their sexual duties - they die young because they are born with undeveloped mouth parts and cannot eat enough as adults to sustain their bodies. Final fact is that one bagworm species, the Fangalabola (Deborrea malgassa) of Madagascar, is in some places encouraged to breed on wattle trees, because its pupae are collected as a protein-rich food.for humans. Tue 22 Jan More Fieldfares, two Green Sandpipers and Hawthorn buds about to open as if it were May Today the snow was still lying and the pavements were very slippery when away from the busiest roads but I managed a walk to the Hermitage Stream where it runs through the Stockheath area of Leigh Park to see if the expected Green Sandpiper was in the stream again this winter. I usually find it just downstream of the first footbridge upstream of the Barncroft Way roadbridge but this time my route took me first to the second footbridge from which I was surprised to see one feeding actively not far downstream. Crossing over that bridge I headed south along the far bank, passing a family of Long-tailed Tits as well as many Collared Doves and Starlings before reaching the downstream footbridge from which, to my surprise, I saw what I assume was a second Green Sandpiper looking just as happily settled as the first had been (though the first could have flown downstream to fool me). Back over this bridge I walked a few yards east then turned north off the path to the east end of a row of shrubby trees (from which a massive metal pipe strangely emerges in mid-air before disapperaing again into the rising ground ahead). Among the last of the trees hiding the pipe is a Hawthorn which always flowers months before normal Hawthorns and while it had no open flowers today it was covered with fresh leaves and looking up with my binoculars I picked out at least three full formed clusters of flower buds ready to open when the sun returns. I am not sure where this tree came from but I suspect it was imported from some country well to the south of our latitude and that the flowering does not indicate that the famous Glastonbury Thorn (grown from the true cross of Christ and regularly flowering on Christmas Day in his honour) is in the ancestral line of this paricular tree. Nor is this tree unique in our area - a small cluster of similar trees grew on the southern bank of the IBM Lake at Cosham and they too are probably about to flower. Back on the east side of the stream I followed its bank south across Barncroft Way to New Road - for much of this section I was accompanied by two Fieldfares also working their way south as they searched for food. At New Road I turned west and followed the road to Bedhampton where I crossed Bidbury Mead and took Mill Lane down to Bedhampton House from which I followed the Wayfarer's Way back into Havant - anyone who has used this latter path recently will be pleased to know that the vegetation has been cut back (including lopping some branches of the ancient Mulberry Tree hanging over it from the Water Company land) and more importantly patches of deep mud have been filled in with hard core. Two flocks each of 30+ Fieldfares flew south over this section as I gather they have been doing all along the central south coast in in the past three days Back at home I made my regular trawl of south coast bird news and was surprised to see the extent of the recent Fieldfare movement. I can only give a flavour of it here but from some 30 reports I have jotted down for the period Jan 19 to 22 I can say that the movement was noticed from Hastings west to Portland (I have'nt yet looked at the news from Devon and Cornwall). Reports from Sussex were mainly from the west of the county, especially the shore south of Arundel where the highest individual count was of 9550 at Climping on Jan 21, Pagham Harbour had 1840 while Bognor claimed 1000 per hour flying west. In Dorset Christchurch Harbour reported 13,200 as early as Jan 19 with 4000 on Jan 20 (that number was included in a total of 12,500 from five Dorset sites that day). Also on Jan 20 Lymington had 2170 and Hayling Island had 1600 (1000 at Sinah and 600 at Sandy Point with maybe some double counting) On Jan 21 there were probably over 1000 in the Southsea/Milton area of Portsmouth with at least another 300 in Gosport with 250 still there on Jan 22 when a count at Brownwich (just west of Titchfield Haven) returned 1000. I suspect many will still be seen later this week, maybe with more Redwings which have been in short supply this week (perhaps because of their habit of migrating at night!) The largest number of Redwing reported was just 200 at East Head/West Wittering on Jan 20 with 500 Fieldfare. Of local interest I see that Martin Hampton has managed to lure at least one Redwing into his Havant (Lower Grove Road) garden using apples. Mon 21 Jan Fieldfares, Redwing, Knot and a Drumming Woodpecker around Langstone This morning I walked west to the Brockhampton Stream then east along the shore to Budds Farm, then along the shore to Langstone Pond and home up Wade Lane. My walk brought my bird year list to 77 with three good additions of Redwing, Fieldfare and Knot plus a dubious one which I have put down as Rock Dove as I disdain adding Feral Pigeon to my list but three birds which I saw on the shore and which I at first thought were Stock Doves were on a close look too smartly marked for Stock Doves having exactly the plumage shown in my Collins Guide for Rock Dove - I am not suggesting they were Rock Doves but the very bold double wing bars on very pale closed wings are as shown in Collins and all three were the same with none of the 'rags and tatters' plumage of most town pigeons. My guess is that they were carefully bred domestic pigeons. The Redwing was a lone bird which identified itself with its unique 'guck' call before being seen flying west over the gravel quay where the Brockhampton meets the Hermitage Stream but the Fieldfares were a determined party of more than 35 heading due south over the moors, over my head, and out over the harbour, looking as if they had no intention of stopping until they were over the Channel The first thing I heard as I left my front door was regular Dunnock song from across the road and during the outing I heard Robin, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Great Tit all singing and ended with my first drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker which seemed to have a nest hole (which it may use again) in a dead tree above the northern gate from the muddy part of Wade Lane into the pony field south of Wade Court. Although there was not much song I did list 49 bird species though very few flowers but the plant list did include the bright orange fruits of Japanese Spindle as the thick green covers of these fruits start to split - the bush coming over the wall of the West Mill at the South Moors end of Mill Lane was looking very colourful today.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JAN 14 - 20 (WEEK 03 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: At the start of this week there were around 3000 Red-throated off the Netherlands but numbers on the north Kent shores seem to have been declining (more likely moving on through the Channel) with counts from Reculver of 51 on Jan 12, 13 on Jan 15, 10 on Jan 16 and just 1 on Jan 18 (Portland had 10 on Jan 16). The only reports of Black-throats have been singles at Reculver on Jan 15 and Portland Harbour later in the week. Highest count of Great Northern was of 6 at Selsey on Jan 13 and there have been several reports of up to 2 at the entrances of both Langstone and Chichester Harbours. Grebes: There were still 2000 Great Crested feeding off Dungeness on Jan 17 but the latest news of the east Solent raft is dated Jan 13 when 95 were off the Brownwich Cliffs and 68 (may or not have been a different group) were off Netley in Southampton Water. More Red-necked may have moved south bringing a total of 6 off the Netherlands on Jan 12 when 2 more were in Dorset waters (Studland and Weymouth Bays). One Slavonian seems to be resident in Langstone Harbour but at least 6 have been together in Portland Harbour with others scattered along the south coast (though no reports of any flock off Pagham Harbour). The biggest current flock of Black-necked seems to be at Falmouth with 26 in Carrick Roads on Jan 13 but Portland Harbour had 20 on Jan 14. The only report on the Hampshire list this week for Langstone Harbour is of just one seen from Farlington Marshes on Jan 15. Balearic Shearwater: The majority of sightings from the British Isles come between June and October but between 15 and 20 were seen in Cornwall (Carbis Bay and St Ives) on Jan 14

Shag: These start to gather nest material and settle down in Feb and Mar but there are still many seeking food where it can be found and this week there were 3 in the Langstone Harour entrance and 42 around Christchurch Harbour (near their nesting cliffs on the Isle of Wight)

Bittern: Sightings reported from 12 south coast sites this week including 3 birds at Shinewater Lake in Eastbourne, 3 at Marazion (Penzance) in Cornwall, 2 at the Blashford Lakes and almost certainly another 2 at Titchfield Haven Egrets: The only Cattle Egret currently in Britain seems to be at the Somerset Levels but on Jan 15 Lee Evans told us that he knows of 35 Great White Egrets in the British Isles but I don't know if this includes the mysterious report of one seen in a tree at Broadmarsh (Langstone Harbour) on Jan 13 though it does include the colony of seven now established at Dungeness. In Hampshire I think all the Avon Valley reports are of the same bird though it has been roaming between Bickerley Common, Blashford Lake and Harbridge (the village which remains in my memory not so much for birds but for the romantic name of the Vicar's daughter in the 1940s when I was in my early teens - if anyone knows what became of Melody Darling do let met know!).

Spoonbill: The flock of at least 16 remains in the west of Poole Harbour.

Bewick's Swan: A definite increase of numbers in southern England after 48 arrived in the Netherlands on Jan 12. A flock of 30 is currently settled at Warningcamp on the Arun near Arundel (I guess they arrived there via Pulborough where 22 were seen on Jan 14 only). Several reports of small numbers from Kent (Sandwich and Reculver) may or may not be of birds on the move as I fear were reports of up to three in the Ringwood (Harbridge) area on Jan 19 only (still time for them to settle but not in the numbers I see when picking up the 1981 HBR at random and see that the highest count for that year was of 156 on Jan 25)

Whooper Swan: The regular family group which roosts on the Chichester Lakes and hides away somewhere in the nearby country side seems to have returned with a sighting of three birds in the Runcton/Mundham area on Jan 15 and again on Jan 16

Brent Goose: There has been no further large scale movement east since that reported last week when 1600 (probably from Arachon near Bordeaux) flew past Dungeness on Jan 11 with more moving on Jan 12 and 13

Black Brant: The only report this week is of one with Brent grazing on the private Royal Marines playing fields at Eastney in Portsmouth which can for the most part be watched from Halliday Crescent running south from Henderson Road towards the Esplanade

Red-breasted Goose: It seems we have now seen the last of our Portsmouth area bird for this winter. The last report from Farlington Marshes was on Jan 12 and early on Jan 13 it was twice seen flying with Brent past Selsey, heading east at 9:15 am then returning with other Brent at 9:40. It presumably landed on Thorney Island where it was seen on Jan 14 but it has not been seen anywhere since that day. I assume its tentative flight on Jan 13 showed it was ready to go and fruitless search since then confirms it has now gone. I doubt it has gone to Norfolk where Lee Evans reported a group of four present on Jan 15

Wigeon: On Jan 17, the day before he snow fell across southern England, Dungeness, Sandwich and Reculver all reported a strong arrival and westward movement of Wigeon and other species - these three Kent sites reported a movement of more than 3,000 birds in total

Scaup: As well as a flock of up to 10 at the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset Langstone Harbour has had a resident couple of these since Jan 1 (when a strangely plumaged young bird was seen around the harbour) with an adult femaile seen for the first time on Jan 4. These are probably still around, favouring the Oysterbeds where they are often on the lagoon, but the last reported sighting was on Jan 17 (when there were also still 9 at Abbotsbury). Another individual has been at Slapton Ley in south Devon.

Smew: The weather seems to have brought in a few more of these with one female reaching the Isle of Wight on Jan 16 and at least three newcomers heading west in Kent (one over Reculver on Jan 17 and two at Sandwich on Jan 18)

Water Rail: On Jan 14 there were seven of these at Christchurch Harbour, probably all having crossed the channel and half of southern England to get there - in my estimation these must be the second most unlikely (after Little Grebe) bird species to make regular long distance migratory flights. I was first made aware of these flights when I found the corpse of one at the foot of the glass sided IBM HQ building in Portsmouth back in the 1980s - the moon had been shining overnight and a reed edged pool at the foot of the glass building would have looked attractive to the bird wanting somewhere to settle away for the daytime hours when it was not flying but when it realised that the pool was not as isolated as a hideaway should be the moonlit reflection of the water in the glass building must have encouraged it to fly on at full speed straight into the wall which broke its neck.

Avocet: Another travelling party of 17 birds spent part of Jan 15 in Langstone Harbour before heading on west to its winter holiday resort.

Golden Plover: This is another species showing cold weather movements - on Jan 18 the following were reported in Dorset ... Golden Plover - 1420 Radipole, 1000+ in field nr Hive Beach, 650 Southdown Ridge, 500 West Bexington, 300 Abbotsbury, 240 Durlston CP, 75 Hillfield, 55 Portland Bill, 45 Canford Heath, 20 Langton Matravers, 20 Stoborough, 15 Briantspuddle, 11 Chetnole.

Lapwing were also prominent eevery where - at least they have not all left us for Spain.

Ruff: 12 at Pulborough Brooks this week was a good number but I see they had 17 there in March last year

Snipe: These seem to have come south in large numbers in advance of the snow - on Jan 13 The Vyne floods at Basingstoke had a record count of 111 but Pulborough managed a count of 293 on Jan 12

Black-tailed Godwit: Following the move of coastal birds in the Solent area inland it would seem that a few newcomers to the harbours this week may have come from further afield

Spotted Redshank: We may also have had some newcomers to swell the numbers of these - at Emsworth a change of behaviour in staying at Nore Barn for the high tide roost may have been influenced by the arrival of a new bird that has not yet found that it is normal to fly to the Thorney Deeps when the tide rises, while at Lymington a count of 13 there may reflect new arrivals pushing up the site total from 10 to 13 on Jan 15

Tawny Owl: The arrival of the snow pushed up my yearlist to a paltry 73 when I was walking down the Billy Trail past Wade Court here in Havant - from the grounds I could hear on-going scolding of something by a Jay and a few minutes later, while trying to see what the fuss was about, I had a brief glimpse of a Tawny Owl flying over the lake in the grounds.

Great Spotted Woodpecker: First report of drumming came from the Arundel Wildfowl reserve on Jan 7 with further reports from Durlston on Jan 10 and 14

Woodlark: This is another species being seen in unusual places thanks to the snow. On Jan 18 one turned up at the Eastleigh Lakeside site (along with 52 Skylarks) while in Dorset that day 13 birds were spread over four unexpected sites. On Jan 19 one turned up at the Sinah Warren site on south Hayling and was still there the next day while it or another flew along the north shore of Portsmrouth Harbour. On Jan 20 one appeared on the Milton reclaimed land on the west shore of Langstone Harbour.

Skylark: On Jan 18 Dorset had the following reports - 1658 over Radipole, 850 Durlston CP, 200 Portland Bill, 300 Southdown Ridge, 125 Chetnole, 110 Lodmoor, 50 Briantspuddle, 45 Langton Matravers, 30 Abbotsbury - plus five more reports from Hampshire

Waxwing: Still being reported from Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex and Kent

Blackbird: Jan 15 brought the first report of song from Durston although the first of the year had been clained at Emsworth on Jan 4

Fieldfare: Plenty of these have moved south this week. Over on the continent 4691 were recorded at one Netherlands site on Jan 15 and by Jan 18 there were at least 1000 in Dorset with small flocks scattered all along the south coast (we even had one in Emsworth!)

Redwing: On Jan 18 there were 107 in Portsmouth Dockyard plus 250 at Holly Hill near Warsash and on Jan 19 at Sinah Common on Hayling there were at least 200. These were not settled flocks which stayed feeding and roosting in one spot but more like the remanants of a defeated army fleeing with occasional pauses to pick up essential food where they could find it.

Mistle Thrush: These are not common in Hampshire nowadays but on Jan 20 there were 30 or more at Browndown near Gosport and at least four other sightings in south Hampshire that day with a flock of 15 at Avington on the River Itchen on Jan 18

Pallas Warbler: The bird at the Eversley gravel pits on the Hant/Berks border was still there on Jan 17

Hawfinch: The number at the Mercer's Way site in Romsey shut up this week to a count of 30 birds on Jan 17

Foreign Birds: A very unexpected find on the coast of Cumbria on Jan 6 was a long-dead White-tailed Tropicbird but for live exotic birds Steve Copsey is still giving us great value in pictures and information from the Antarctic via http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/ Not only can we see closeups of Wandering Albatross and Southern Giant Petrel thanks to being fed with Yorkshire Pudding and Tuna Steaks but can also learn why the Wandering Albatross often has orangey contamination on its otherwise spotless white plumage - to appreciate how this comes about you must understand how these 'tube nose' species accumulate salt in their noses to avoid ingesting too much of it. When the nose gets full the Albatross 'sneezes' to eject it, a mechanism that works well enough for other species but the bill shape of this species tends to cause a blow-back of the 'snot' so that it lands on and sticks to the plumage on the side of the head where the bird cannot clean it off with either bill or claws INSECTS Butterflies: Two very unusual reports this week - one is of a Small White which emerged from its pupa, buried in a compost heap in a Christchurch garden on Jan 9 (and which is I think alive in captivity), and a female Holly Blue which also emerged naturally very early and is thought to have died from excessive rain before it was found Species reported this week: Red Admiral: four Hampshire reports this week on Jan 9 and 11 Painted Lady: Now five reports between Jan 4 and 11 - three from Sussex and one each from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Peacock: What is thought to be one of this species was flying around in Portsmouth Guildhall during a concert on Jan 17

Other Insects

Moth eggs/larvae found this week: On Jan 14, while moth trapping in Botley Woods near Fareham, Tony Tindale was shown a collection of eggs laid by a Vapourer Moth around the cocoon from which she had just emerged to be mated by a keen male before she had left her 'birthplace'. The females are wingless and their sole role in life is to hang around until a male come be, then to mate and dies. Presumably was already loaded with eggs which only had to received fertilisation from a male before they could be laid. See http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/amigo/2013/01/14/vapourer-moth-egg- batch-and-cocoon-on-fallen-leaf/ for Tony Tindale's account and photos of this find A second find reported on Jan 16 from Dorset (without a photo) is of a first instar Oak Eggar caterpillar but you can see what this looks like by going to http://www.ukleps.org/morphology.html selecting the top line which says 'Click here for the main index' then selecting 'English Common Names' and scrolling down that list of species names to 'Oak Eggar' which will bring up pictures of the egg and developing caterpillar through to the pupa and adult moth.

PLANTS Lesser Celandine: These are now appearing in several places including the banks of the Lymbourne Stream in Havant where they failed to be first this year.

Common Chickweed: First flowers seen on Jan 17 in St Faith's Church Yard (for photos see my Cemeteries page at http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm

Herb Robert: still flowering in Havant that day (Jan 17)

Red Clover: A second flower head (after the first on Jan 11) seen in Havant on Jan 15

Germander Speedwell: A most unexpected plant in flower at the Warblington Cemetery on on Jan 17 (photo also on the Cemeteries page)

Elder: First leafshoots opening since Jan 15

Butterbur: Brian Fellows reports that the plants at Brook Meadow in Emsworth were already starting to push up through the ground on Jan 13

Winter Heliotrope: Worth mentioning this again as it has been used as a nectar source for three Painted Lady butterflies at Ventnor, Isle of Wight, on Jan 11

OTHER WILDLIFE Humpback Whale: The recent TV Winterwatch programme will probably have made many people aware for the first time that these can occasionally be seen off Ireland. Last month I heard of two off the Netherlands (perhaps a mother and young calf) seen on Dec 4 and this week there is another report from the same site though of only one seen. For good pictures and facts go to http://www.arkive.org/humpback-whale/megaptera-novaeangliae/

Grey Seal: Common Seals are resident and frequently seen in our harbours but Grey Seals do occasionally show up and one was reported off Black Point at the entrance to Chichester Harbour on Jan 12

Water Voles: Until the snow fell on Jan 18 there had been at least seven sightings of these voles in the R Ems at Brook Meadow with several reports from elsewhere in Hampshire and I suspect that even if snow lies for some time (which is unlikely) they will be out gather food on most days (though often not seen)

Hare: Four were seen on the Isle of Wight West High Down area on Jan 11 and I fear that this being the only report I have seen for the week is a sad indication of the declining numbers of these creatures over recent years. I can remember time when they could be seen regularly on Farlington Marshes and Thorney Island - nowadays it seem you are unlikley to seem them even on the Stansted estate. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JAN 14 - 20 (WEEK 3 OF 2013) Summary of the past week's observation This morning I walked to Langstone through the melting snow and added three new birds to my year list - passing Wade Court on the Billy Trail I heard repeated harsh scolding from a Jay and while looking for it I saw a Tawny Owl (the cause of the scolding) flying over the Wade Court lake. A little further on, walking over the muddy field path to the shore, I was also lucky enough to have a Buzzard fly low everhead - that was the third new bird but there were still other things of interest including two Grey Wagtails and the first Lesser Celandines on the stream banks (where I usually see the first of the year but they were late in appearing this yeast). Further up the Billy Trail one Hazel tree had all its catkins open. The outflow of the stream by the Mill had an active Greenshank and most of the expected birds were present on the shore and in the pond but there was nothing to get excited about though I think I saw a distant Stock Dove fly into trees (but not clearly enough to add to the year list - it could have been a young Woodpigeon as while I could not see any white on its neck or wings I also could not see the black bars on its wings). Yesterday the heavy snowfall kept me indoors but on Thursday (Jan 17) I took my camera around both St Faith's church yard and the Warblington cemetery to create updates that are now on my Cemeteries page (http://ralph- hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm)where you can see what I found. At St Faith's flowers on Common Chickweed were new for the year and at Warblington I was very surprised to find a plant of Germander Speedwell with a few last flowers (though my first for the year). Elsewhere in Havant I photgraphed Herb Robert in flower, took more shots of the Common Whitlowgrass in Waterloo Road and captured the growth of Mistletoe on a tree in Fairfield Scool grounds Harking back to Monday's diary entry about the small fungi found growing on moss on my lawn I have now had a message from Stuart Skeates of the Hampshire Fungus Recording Group agreeing with my identification of it and saying he will add it to the county database which currently has only six records of the species showing that it is uncommon. Mon 14 Jan An unusual new fungus on the moss of my lawn This entry is about a find made last Thursday but which I could not describe at the time as it needed some research to name the fungus concerned and also a chance when it was not raining to photograph it in situ. You will see from the photos that it was easy to overlook this small fungus whose fanshaped fruiting bodies measure less than 1 cm across and hide themselves in the grass and moss of the lawn - I suspect this is not the first year in which the species has grown here and this year I only noticed it when putting out some breadcrumbs for the birds and some of them landed in the patch of grass where the fungi were growing. When I did notice them I had no idea what they might be so I collected a sample and brought it indoors to check out against my books and the internet. Luckily I came on a good match on page 265 of Roger Phillips book on Mushrooms of Britain and Europe which has stood me in good stead since round 1984 and gave me the name Leptoglossum retirugum - this name however, as is normally the case with fungi, is not the one used by Mycologists today and I had to check out two other names which have also fallen into disuse (Cantharellus retirugus and Dictyolus retirugus) before discovering from Hampshire Fungus Recording Group website (http://www.hampshirefungi.org.uk/ ) that the current name is Arrhenia retiruga. Luckily the HFRG website does allow you to search for records of species that were originally entered under names that are no longer current The aspect of this fungus which I found most interesting was that it grows, not on wood, soil or decaying plant matter, but directly on Moss or other Bryophytes. Roger Phillips describes it as uncommon and the HFRG site has only six records in Hampshire so I hope they will accept and confirm mine.Below are the photos which I took. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JAN 7 - 13 (WEEK 2 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: The big flock of Red Throated off the Netherlands numbered 1780 on Jan 10 and there were 350 off Dungeness on Jan 7, 45 off Reculver on the north Kent coast on Jan 9, and 35 off Folkestone on Jan 8 but further west numbers were smaller (just one off Titchfield Haven area with no double figure counts from elsewhere on the south coast). Black-throated were only seen at four sites - all singles except for four in the Penzance area of Cornwall. Great Northern favoured Hampshire with four records (max three birds at Langstone Harbour entrance on Jan 9) but Falmouth in Cornwall had the most exciting record with the re-appearance of the Pacific Diver which had been in the Penzance area of Cornwall from Dec 5 to 13. Grebes: A Little Grebe at Peter Pool in Emsworth was showing the first signs of breeding plumage on Jan 10 and on Jan 7 I had heard one 'trilling' its spring song the Thorney Island Little Deeps but Great Crested were still in winter mode with rafts of 3500 feeding off Dungeness, 146 seen at Dawlish Bay in Devon and 105 in Southampton Water on Jan 6 reducing to 81 off Hill Head on Jan 9. The only Red-necked seen this week were 2 at Falmouth in Cornwall on Jan 9. Portland Harbour had 4 Slavonian on Jan 8, 3 were at Rye Harbour on Jan 10 and 2 were in Langstone Harbour on Jan 6 (with one there on Jan 8. The highest count of Black-necked was 21 off the Hayling Oysterbeds on Jan 6 when Portland Harbour had 20 and Falmouth has 14 Little Egret: At the end of last year I was convinced that Egrets had virtually abandoned Langstone Mill Pond as a night roost and was not expecting to see more than half a dozen birds there until the urge to nest brought them back (last year I first noticed birds at nests on Feb 23), so it was a surprise to hear that Nik Knight had found 26 birds arriving to roost on Jan 11. When he reached the pond at sunset only three birds were present but as he was interested in the possibility of seeing bats rather than birds he stayed until half an hour after sunset and in that time 23 more birds arrived so once again the birds have overturned my prediction of their behaviour. Perhaps one factor influencing their behaviour has been the weather - a period of cold weather in November and early December drove the Egrets inland but when the weather became milder (especially here in the south) for the second half of December (see the Met Office monthly summary at http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2012/december.html) this brought a number of the Egrets back to the coast - I noticed a significant number back in the Langstone area but did not know where they were roosting at night (maybe at the Thorney Little Deeps roost?). Nik's discovery that they are still using the Langstone Pond site, but staying out later than usual is consistent with the reduced number of daylight hours in the winter - to get enough food to keep them going they have to stay out until darkness prevents them feeding and thus they do not return to the trees until after dark. It will be interesting to see how the birds re-act to the predicted cold spell that should start as this week ends.

Great White Egret: The Bickerly Common/Blashford Lakes regular remains but we have had at least one new visitor this week, seen on seaside rocks at Ferring (Worthing area) on Jan 4 and at the Pevensey Levels near Eastbourne on Jan 6

Glossy Ibis: The Bickerley Common bird near Ringwood was still present on Jan 12 but on Jan 9 what was thought to be that bird appeared at dusk in the Christchurch Harbour area suggesting that it might be looking for a new home.

Spoonbill: The Poole Harbour flock (17 birds)were seen together at Arne on Jan 6. A few others remain in the extreme west - 2 seen in Cornwall on Jan 4 and 3 on the Scillies on Jan 9 Brent Goose: As usual the return passage of Brent has started long before we see any drop in the numbers in the Solent harbours - on Jan 11 Dungeness recorded 1100 flying east, clearly heading back for their breeding sites, and on Jan 12 Dungeness saw 3,950 follow them (a January record for Dungeness), presumably that figure included 1675 seen at Rye Harbour and 1225 seen at Hastings. A clue as to where these birds come from was supplied by Matthew Silk on the Sussex Ornithological Soc sightings page where he wrote .. "Whilst its tempting to suggest this early movement is caused by the warm winter weather conditions, I think it is likely that there is another phenomenon at play here (possibly with both having an effect). All brent populations had a very poor breeding season in the Arctic last summer and this resulted in them returning to their regular staging sites much earlier than normal. I've just returned from Arcachon (close to Bordeaux) in SW France which is the most important wintering site for dark-bellied brents. There they had numbers much higher than normal (60,000) and with numbers peaking early in early December (with only a few thousand left currently). It seems that due to numbers returning so early in the winter in such high numbers, the eel grass beds they forage on will be exhausted forcing them to return to spring staging sites where they will feed on grassland/saltmarsh earlier than expected. From what I know birds in these French sites don't move onto grassland/arable in the same way as at English sites forcing this return movement." I was not aware of the number present at Arachon, nor that nearly all of them have already left, but I was aware that this early movement is not unusual. Last year it started on Jan 14 with 365 passing Dungeness followed on Jan 15 with larger numbers seen all along the Sussex coast (e.g. 777 passing Selsey) and as far west at Portland where 50 were noted heading east. Almost certainly these birds came from the west coast of France and for some reason crossed the Channel to follow the English south coast to Dover, recrossing the sea to follow the north German coast towards the Baltic. Last year's patten of movement was of intermittent bursts of passage (possibly governed by weather and/or food supply) - the first burst on Jan 14/15 was followed by the next on Jan 25/26 and then others on Feb 18 and 29 before the English birds started to join in. Another important factor determining how many birds head east on any date is that the great majority of adults are this year untrammeled by having to move at a pace dictated by young birds which may need to spend longer feeding at each stop on the journey. Red-breasted Goose: The Farlington Marshes bird was present there on Jan 12 but on Jan 13 it was not mentioned in the Hampshire sightings but what I assume to be that bird appeared in the Sussex sightings which said that it was seen heading east past Selsey Bill at 9:15am with a party of Brent but returned west at 9:40am, again with some Brent (a separate note gives a total of 64 Brent going east but only 10 going west so it is not clear if the Red-breasted bird was accompanied by the same party of Brent on each transit) Mandarin duck: Last autumn I was made aware of the growing Mandarin population in Britain when reports of a resident flock of 80 or more birds at Hembury Woods in south Devon led me to investigate the overall situation in Britain. I was reminded of this by reports of 27 Mandarin at Folkeston in Kant Mallard ducklings: The first report of fluffy ducklings for this year came from Thurlestone Bay in south Devon where a family of five were seen with their mother on Jan 5 Long-tailed Duck: In addition to birds seen in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall this week brought a sighting from a new site - Puckpool Point near Ryde on the Isleof Wight though it was ony a one day wonder of a single female seen on Jan 8 only.

Goshawk: One flew north over the Keyhaven area near Lymington on Jan 4 - possibly an immigrant arriving to swell the Hampshire population? Peregrine: An unusual observation at Durlston on Jan 10 was of a Peregrine catching a Wood Pigeon and bringing it back to the cliffs to enjoy a meal only to have the meal taken from it by a couple of Ravens Quail: Not a species that is expected at this time of year but one was seen at South Brent in Devon on Jan 9 by a farmer who at first thought he was watching a Snipe - presumably a bird that had escaped from captivity (perhaps from a farm which keeps them to produce eggs or a Butterfly Farm where they are employed to destroy spiders and other insects which might predate the caterpillars and pupae of the butterflies and moths) In 2008 one was seen flying over the Sussex Downs on Jan 15 and in 2003 one was seen briefly at the Hayling Oysterbeds on Jan 31

Avocet: A group of 7 were seen at Farlington Marshes and 14 were there on Jan 13 but no reports on other days this week tending to confirm the impression that birds seen there are not winter resident but are still on passage to winter quarters further west. It is more difficult to work out if the birds seen in the Thorney Channel and Nutbourne Bay on the east side of Thorney Island are resident there but a flock of 32 were seen there on Jan 9 (the only two previous reports for this year from this site were of 27 on Jan 1 and 16 on Jan 3)

Purple Sandpiper: The number at Southsea Castle shot up to a peak of 19 birds on Jan 7 with 15 seen there on Jan 9

Med Gull: Maybe these are starting to assemble in pre-breeding flocks - this week brought the first substantial counts of the year with 816 at Ferrybridge (Weymouth) on Jan 5 and 35 on the Lymington shore on Jan 9. A note of just one at Christchurch Harbour on Jan 9 was accompanied by the comment that the absence of fields full of pigs in the lower Avon Valley this winter has greatly reduced the number of Med Gulls in the general area

Auks: Portland reported an estimated 25,000 on the sea there on Jan 9 and this seems to be part of a surge of these birds heading east up the English Channel as they, like the Brent, feel the urge to return to their breeding sites.The number of Guillemots passing Dungeness was 750 on Jan 4, 4000 on Jan 7 and At Durlston around 200 Guillemots already most of them in breeding plumage were back on their nest ledges by Dec 20.

Stock Dove: These are usually quite easy to find around the Havant area in winter flocks but so far I have not seen any this year despite reports of 'many' in north Kent and a flock of 13 in Devon (and no doubt many more which have gone unreported elsewhere). The only local report I have seen is of at least one in the Farlington Marshes 'Bushes' are seen on Jan 2.

Kingfisher: I am also still without Kingfisher on my yearlist but I am encouraged to see that one was at its usual spot on the Brockhampton Stream alongside Budds Farm on Jan 7 and that there have been sightings in the Emsworth area on both Jan 10 and 13. Skylark: The first report of Skylark song for the year comes from the Alresford area near Winchester on Jan 8 and I had a small flock of 25+ at Warblington on Jan 7 but I have not heard the song nor seen a flock of 260 birds that was reported in Devon on Jan 9. Waxwing: These are still being seen in northern Britain and across the south of England with a slight increase in Hampshire sightings this week - 50 remain at North Camp in Farnborough with at least 5 in Ringwood and 7 in the Botley Woods north of Fareham plus singles in the Basingstoke and Hartley Witney areas of north east Hampshire. Dunnock: One has been heard in full song at Emsworth on at least two occasions recently but this song has not yet become widespread. Blackbird: This song has also been reported from Emsworth but from nowhere else so far. Mistle Thrush: Full song was reported from the Froxfield area near Petersfield but from nowhere else so far. Lesser Whitethroat: A bird seems to be wintering in Cornwall, seen at The Lizard on Jan 5. Pallas Warbler: A bird which has been seen in the Eversley area on the Hants/Berks border on Jan 4, 7, and 9 and reported as a Yellow-browed Warbler was re-identified as a Pallas Warbler on Jan 12. Nuthatch: One was seen in the garden of the old Farmhouse (east of Wade Court at Langstone) on Jan 10 and will hopefully stay in the area - the species has in the past bred at Wade Court and more recently has been a regular sight during the spring further up Wade Court Road (near North Close). Vagrants: In this case the vagrants were birders out on their New Year's Day birdraces (for which it is no longer mandatory to turn out on Jan 1 - you can chose your date any time within the first two weeks of January). The highest score recorded in Sussex was 95 with the next six runners up soring between 92 and 59. The Isle of Wight was way ahead of these scores with Robin Attrill scoring 119 but Hampshire poved the clear winner with three separate teams all scoring 121 followed by runners up on 111 and 98. INSECTS

Butterflies:

Red Admiral: Three singles seen in Kent and East Sussex all on Jan 1 and one more seen in the Scillies on Jan 4

Peacock: One seen on Thorney Island on Jan

Speckled Wood: An extremely early emergence on Jan 1 reported at Penryn near Falmouth in Cornwall. Unlike the Red Admiral which seems to struggle through our winters without hibernating properly and the Peacock which can be roused from hibernation at any time by human actions (fetching in firewood from a store in which the butterfly has settled or turning on the heating in a guest room which is not regularly occupied), the Speckled Wood spends the winter as a chrysalis from which it cannot emerge successfully until nature has completed the task of transforming a caterpillar into a butterfly. Seeking confirmation of this report from the Butterfly Conservation national website at http://butterfly- conservation.org/52/first-sightings-2013.html I see that not only have they accepted this report but also have first sightings of Painted Lady on Jan 1 in four counties but also Small Tortoiseshells in Dorset and Sussex on Jan 1 and a Comma in Kent on Jan 8 plus a Brimstone in Bedfordshire on Jan 1.

Other Insects Large White butterfly caterpillars: On Dec 28 a cluster of these caterpillars was found on Purple Brocolli plants in an Eastbourne garden where the finder was more concerned for the survival of the butterflie than of the Cabbages and moved the plants with the caterpillars into a greenhouse. Now a similar report comes on Jan 10 from Clanfield near Waterlooville but with no comment on the finders concern for the survival of the butterflies

PLANTS Lesser Celandine: Seen flowering in two new locations this week - several in the ditch beside the Havant Bill Trail north of the A27 bridge and one plant by the roundabout where you enter the Broadmarsh area from the A27 - this plant was of the large form which has leaves growing from the flowering stems.

Hairy Bittercress: A single first flower seen in Havant on Jan 8

Common Whitlowgrass: The first flowers started to appear on the plants in Waterloo Road, Havant (north side) where it passes the Prince George St carpark in which the Grey Alder catkins are now fully open. By Jan 10 at least 20 Whitlowgrass plants were in flower

Common Mallow: I found my first flowering plant at Broadmarsh on Jan 11

Red Clover: Just one fresh flowerhead seen on Jan 11 on the Harts Farm Way roadside

Pellitory of the Wall: A few plants still flowering by the front door of Slipper Mill House (Slipper Mill Road) at Emsworth on Jan 7

Primrose: The first flowers on what were probably garden escape plants were seen in Emsworth on Jan 6 and by the eastern entrance to Farlington Marshes on Jan 11

Greater Periwinkle: The first flowers on the Oxyloba variety (which has thin, well separated, propeller like petals of a much deeper blue than the normal plant) were seen in the Warblington area on Jan 7

Sharp-leaved Fluellen: On Jan 7 I came across a single plant of this in the Warblington Farm field behing Conigar Point and on lifting up several of the long prostrate stems I could see remnants of recent flowers!

Field Woundwort: Also in the Conigar Point field on Jan 7 I found a single fresh plant of this with flower buds about to open

Ox-eye Daisy: On Jan 1 I was pretty sure I had seen flowers of this beside the cycleway passing Broadmarsh but could not refind them on my return past the same point so I was pleased to clearly see three plants with flowers when I walked past the same spot on Jan 11

OTHER WILDLIFE

Sika Deer: The appearance of two Sika at Durlston on Jan 10, presumably from the population resident in the Arne area on the west shore of Poole Harbour, was the first sighting there this year but Sika are widespread and thriving in Dorset. See http://www.h2g2.com/approved_entry/A23502926 regarding the Dorset population which started with introductions to Wareham and Brownsea Island around 1895. For identification and general facts about the species see http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Sika_Deer

White Rabbit: On Jan 5 Bob Chapman saw a Black Rabbit at Farlington Marshes and put a photo of it on his blog (see http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/2013/01/05/black-bunny/ ) and also mentioned that a non-albino White Rabbit was resident in the north east corner of the reserve. When I visited the reserve on Jan 11 my last observation, as I was walking along the eastern sea wall with the exit gate already in sight, was a clear view of this White Rabbit in the base of the hedge separating the seawall from the marshy area north of the 'Hay field' and south of the 'Slip field' adjacent to the cycleway and A27. A man who happened to be sitting nearby on a wooden bench told me that he had seen three different White Rabbits in this area recently. Pipistrelle Bat: About half an hour after sunset on Jan 11 Nik Knight saw a Pipistrelle Bat flying over the Lymbourne Stream beside the Billy Trail near Wade Court in Havant. This follows a sighting of one in Brighton just before sunset on Dec 17. Normally bats would be in hibernation at both these dates but they do wake up periodically, usually on warm days, and take a short daytime flight to 'stretch their wings' and defecate before returning to sleep for another month or more. The December sighting sounds typical of such a winter flight but the current one, even though it was following a warm day which may have roused the bat from sleep, was taken in the dark, and suggests that the bat thought spring had come and it should resume feeding and active life. I have asked Nik for his comments on whether bats may, like Squirrels, be giving up the habit of hibernating and are starting to remain active through the winter, but he has not had time to reply yet.

Marsh Frog: One was heard 'croaking' on the north Kent Oare Marshes on Jan 3, much earlier in the year than they are normally heard. Like the Bats the warm spell seems to have convinced them that Spring is here but I suspect they will soon be silenced by forecast frost and snow (especially in Kent).

Fungi: This week has brought to my notice the presence on my lawn of a fungus I have never seen before and of a type that I was not aware of in that it grows, not on wood, soil or rotting plant material, but on living Moss. I found a good match for it on page 265 of Roger Phillips book on Mushrooms and other fungi of Britain and Europe which has been my favoured guide since the early 1980. The name he uses is Leptoglossum retirugum but that name has now been superseded in the Hampshire Fungus Recording Group database by Arrhenia retiruga and there are six Hampshire records for it scattered across the county (see http://www.hampshirefungi.org.uk/fungi.php?name=Leptoglossum+retirugum ). By going to this link you can see a photo of the species (click on the thumbnail above the distribution map but be aware that the examples which I found are not so pure white in colour - more brownish white) and you can also access the national records of the species which show the various species names under which the species has been originally recorded (Cantharellus retirugus, Dictyolus retirugus). I hope to get photos of what I found on my lawn on my Diary page next week. WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR JAN 7 - 13 (WEEK 2 OF 2013)

Fri 11 Jan

Around Farlington Marshes in glorious sunshine to see a White Rabbit The White Rabbit gets a mention in the above heading because it was the most unexpected sighting of an outing which increased my bird list for the year to 70 with Rock Pipit, Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit though I failed to see the Red- breasted Goose, Avocet or Dartford Warbler and Stonechat which I had been hoping for. To make up for these 'no shows' I did have a glimpse of a Common Seal (or at least it's nose as it came up for breath and that was sufficient to distinguish it from a Grey Seal) and also a good view of a pure white Rabbit in the hedge bottom separating the eastern seawall from the marshy field between the 'Hay field' and the 'Slip field' nearest the cycle way and A27. In the thirty years that I have been visiting the Marshes I cannot recall ever seeing or hearing of a White Rabbit there though on checking back to Bob Chapman's Jan 5 post on his blog, in which he included a photo of a pure Black Rabbit seen on the Marshes, I see he does mention that a white rabbit (which he says is not an albino) does currently reside in the north east corner of the reserve - see http://solentreserves.wordpress.com/2013/01/05/black-bunny/ . Maybe it is not the only one there as a man sitting on a bench close to where I saw the bunny, with whom I spoke about it, told me that he knew of three of them he had seen in that area. Three other bird sightings about which I did not feel sufficiently confident to add the species to my year list were of possible Raven and Water Rail plus a raptor perched motionless on a fence post where the west side of the main marsh meets the reeds east of the stream. The Raven came as I was crossing the 'Bushes' area from the reserve building to the lake, following the path north of the stream. I had reached the point where you can turn right and cross the grass to the main entrance and as I glanced right over this open area what I at first glance thought was a Buzzard came into view flying just above the tree tops but through my bins I could see that it was a black corvid having noticeable 'fingers' to its wing tips but the angle was wrong for seeing the shape of the bill or the tail and within seconds it had silently vanished behind the trees after crossing the open grass. I did not feel at all confident about this being a Raven but it might have been. I felt much more confident about the other non-sighting and my reluctance to record it was because I never glimpsed the bird, only being aware of it by the continuous series of 'Picc picc' calls coming from an area of the Point field in which there was a deep water and weed filled ditch screened on both sides by dense tall bramble bushes. I waited around for several minutes during which the calls continued but whatever was making them clearly did not intend to expose itself - very unlike another bird I once saw in the same ditch when with a party of birders who formed a line along the edge of the ditch (then clear of brambles) to view a Grey Phalarope 'spnning' on the water and showing no concern at our close presence before deciding to move on (which I still swear it did by flying between the legs of one of the watchers, that being the only gap it could see in the line of watchers). The perched raptor could again have been a Buzzard but looked too 'long and thin' for that species and also had a darker plumage to its back (which was towards me) than the normal brown of a Buzzard. Although I had it clearly in my scope from the eastern seawall the bird was over 500 metres away and I had to admit defeat over its id. When entering and leaving the reserve via the eastern gate onto the cycleway I saw that a considerable path clearing operation had occurred there recently and that two metal frames had been installed for vistors to secure their bicycles - I welcomed this (though I would not feel that my bike was secure there for the prolonged period it takes to walk round the reserve as I once had to walk my bicycle home from here after I had left it secured to a tree and almost invisible to passers by, screened by the lower branches of the tree and some distance from the public path - when I came back a failed attempt to steal it had left the brake cables cut through and the nut which held the saddle in place undone!). Of more concern to me was to find out if the path clearing had cut down the small stand of Danewort (Sambucus ebulus) aka Dwarf Elder that I discovered here last summer and was told that it was the first new site for the plant anywhere in south Hampshire for many years - I could not find any remnant of the plants but suspect they were not affected (and if they were I am pretty sure they will re-emerge from roots in the ground). While searching for the Danewort I found, hidden under brambles, a large clump of Primroses already in flower, going on my yearlist as my first 'wild' Primroses. This was the first of several wild flowers seen on the way back to the car at Broadmarsh, mainly because I followed the cycle way to avoid the sodden grassland which I had crossed on the way out. Not in flower were the leaf rosettes of several orchids (either Bee or Pyramidal) but in full flower were Sweet Violets and Lesser Celandine (of the form which looks like a hybrid with Marsh Marigold in having leaves growing from its flower stems). Both these are already on my yearlist as was Oxeye Daisy (seen here on Jan 1 but still having three flowering plants) but new for the year were Common Mallow and Red Clover. So much for today but another new addition to my wildflower yearlist came in my own garden on Jan 9 - a single tiny flower of Thyme-Leaved Speedwell. Finally I can confirm that the posting of my latest update to my Cemeteries page (promised in my previous Diary entry) has been posted and you can see it at http://ralph-hollins.net/Cemeteries.htm

Tue 8 Jan My first Blackcap, two new flowers and a new to me fungus A little sunshine this morning gave me a chance to visit the Havant cemetery and take some photos for my monthly 'Cemetery Wildlife' poster which I will post on my Cemetery Visits page after noting the highlights here. I started with a look at the Lesser Celandines which have been flowering at the New Lane/Eastern Road junction since Christmas Eve and which can now also be seen by the Billy Trail alongside Lower Grove Road. Inside the Eastern Road entrance the first Snowdrops and Croci were starting to flower but I could not spot anything else until I reached the St Faith's section alongside New Lane. Here I photographed a single Creeping Buttercup flower and the already swollen pollen sacs on Common Yew plus the leaves of a Hairy Bittercress to allow me to include in the poster a single first flower of this species seen earlier when passing Fairfield School.

First flowers of Snowdrop and Crocus

Swollen pollen sacs on Common Yews and the first Hairy Bittercress flower Next I spotted what looked like a Lime Tree leaf lying on the ground with some small round blobs of a mould type fungus which I did not recognize so I took a snap of it before my attention was drawn to the sounds of a Tit flock passing through the trees. Among the birds was a noisy Coal Tit briefly singing, several Blue and Long-tailed Tits, and a noisy Chaffinch plus a new bird for my year list - a silent male Blackcap which brought my list t0 67 species.

Mould type fungi on Lime Tree leaf From the Cemetery I headed for Waterloo Road where I found three of the many Common Whitlowgrass plants now had flowers for the first time (not making very good photos but I did nor feel like lying flat on the pavement with lots of people potentially watching me from the busy Prince George Stree carpark on the other side of the road). Having secured proof of this addition to the plant year list I went home, but could not resist taking a photo of a cat snoozing contentedly in a grass tuft in the roadside flowerbed outside Glenhurst School (which I pass each day and have never seen a cat there before)

The first three Common Whitlowgrass flowers

Contented cat in Glenhurst School flowerbed Mon 7 Jan (Link to previous day’s entry) Seven new birds and eight new plants for my year list On a dull morning with low cloud but no rain I cycled and walked from Langstone to Nutbourne along the shore, with the tide at its lowest and a fresh southerly breeze, before riding back along the main road First new bird species was Golden Plover, around ten of them sleeping on the shore with a few Lapwing about half way from Wade Lane to Pook Lane. This is a regular spot to find them in the winter, sometimes in large numbers, on mornings when the high tide occurs just before dawn and they know they will not be disturbed by the rising tide until the daylight hours (during which they like to sleep away from the shore to avoid predators) are over and they need to rouse themselves to feed (which they normally do at night, usually on nearby fields rather than on the shore. The open stretch of mud between Langstone and Warblington Church was packed with Brent Geese and Shelduck mixed with a few Oystercatchers and aound 50 Wigeon but there were few other waders (a couple of Grey Plover and one or two Curlew plus a single Dunlin which flew by in a great hurry to get somewhere else). Reaching Conigar Point I went into the arable field hoping for both birds and weeds but my first impression was that there were neither, nevertheless I made a circuit of the field during which I added three bird species to my year list putting up a flock of at least 25 Skylark, spotting a troop of Long- tailed Tits in the hedge and watching an unidentified finch type bird fly over to perch on the hedge top where it turned into a smart male Reed Bunting. Also seen in the field were several plants of Field Madder and one of Prickly Sowthistle still in flower plus many plants of the Dwarf Spurge which is the speciality of this field. As well as Scentless Mayweed with its large flowers having their petals held in a flat plate there were similar plants with smaller flowers with their petals curved back and I assumed these were Scented Mayweed but as I was not certain I collected a specimen to examine at home, and when I did so I found it not only had the requisite hollow centre to the flowerhead but also, in the warm house, it was strongly aromatic. Two more good finds here were a single plant of Field Woundwort with fresh flower buds and another of Sharp-leaved Fluellen which, when I lifted up several of the long prostrate stems, revealed the remains of recent flowers at least one of which had sufficient of its yellow petals for me to pretend it was still flowering! Outside the field along the shore line at least two of the hundreds of Tamarisks had sufficient flower remnants plus unopen buds for that too to go on my flowering list. The Nore Barn area had no Spotted Redshank and the only tick here was Ivy in flower on the south facing fence along which Brian Fellows has spotted numerous bees, hoverflies and other insects coming to the Ivy nectar recently (which reminds me that as I was getting my bike out of the garage this morning there was a House Fly species waiting inside the door for me to let it out into the 'spring air'.) Reaching the roadbridge over the Slipper Mill Pond I peered over the parapet to check if any Pellitory of the Wall still had flowers - no luck there but on turning into Slipper Mill Road I did find a couple of flowers on more sheltered plants by the Slipper Mill House front door. Just beyond this house, where my first Gorse bush of the morning was in flower, a cultivated wild flower garden had Corn Chamomile and Feverfew flowers. Still looking for flowers I went out of my way along the sea wall of the Marina to add both Hedge Mustard and Black Mustard still just in flower At the Little Deeps I found plenty of Tufted Duck and Gadwall but also heard the whinnying song of a Little Grebe plus a brief snippet of Cetti's Warbler song. Cycling on to the Great Deeps gave me nothing new though I kept my eye out for the Stonechat seen here recently so I retraced my path and went along the NRA track to Thorney Road where I cycled south in search for Canada Geese (and had no difficulty finding them in the field on the east of the road immediately south of the Little Deeps). Back at Thornham Lane there was no hint of flowers on the Alexanders plants and as it was getting late for my lunch I went straight to Prinsted and along the shore to Nutbourne Bay where I added one or two Pintail to my list. Another piece of good news here was that the usually muddy and uneven field edge path to Farm Lane has been levelled and re-surfaced with a hard core to turn it into a broad and easy to ride level path.

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR DEC 31 - JAN 6 (WEEK 1 OF 2013) BIRDS Divers: 41 Red-throated were off Sandwich Bay on Jan 4 with 9 in Christchurch Harbour on Dec 31 and 7 in Stokes Bay at Gosport on Jan 2 but for numbers the Netherlands had 2768 in one flock on Dec 29 and 2842 on Jan 4. The Netherlands was also the only place to report more than one Black-throated (and they only had 2 on Jan 2) but England had singles at ten sites including Nutbourne Bay in Chichester Harbour, Hayling Bay and Stokes Bay. Top scoring English site for Great Northern was Portland Harbour with 8 followed by 5 in Mounts Bay (Cornwall), Chichester Harbour entrance with 3 and Langstone Harbour entrance with 2 Grebes: On Jan 3 there were 6238 Great Crested off the Netherlands (2276 in one raft) and on Jan 1 Dungeness recorded 1260 with 210 at Sandwich Bay and 110 in Southampton Water off Netley on Jan 5 (the latter raft had built up during the week from 42 on Dec 30 with 50 on Jan 1). Jan 3 brought a potential total of 14 Red-necked at five Netherlands sites and on that day there were singles at the Chichester Harbour entrance and off Lymington. Portland Harbour had 7 Slavonian on Jan 1 when one was in Langstone Harbour with another 2 at Selsey Bill. Jan 4 saw 3 off Lymington and Jan 5 saw 2 in Southampton Water. With no reports from the Swanage/Poole Harbour area Langstone Harbour regained the lead with 14 Black Necked on Jan 5 closely followed by 13 in Portland Harbour on Jan 1 Shag: One was diving by the Hayling Ferry in the mouth of Langstone Harbour on Jan 1 and what was probably a different bird was in the Chichester Harbour entrance on Jan 4

Bittern: Singles seen at seven sites, including Titchfield Haven, during the week with 2 at the Blashford Lakes Great White Egret: What used to be thought of as the Blashford Lakes regular now spends all its time at Bickerley Common, south of Ringwood and on the west bank of the river. This is not an area that I am familiar with so I was interest to read the account of a visit there by Mark Cutts and Tony Tindale (two of the Three Amigos) at http://www.surfbirds.com/community- blogs/amigo/2013/01/05/glossy-ibis-at-bickerley-common-hampshire/ From the heading you will gather that they also saw the Glossy Ibis but I was more interested to learn that the birds are at a Nature Reserve set up by the Raymond Brown group based in Ringwood (presumably after working out the minerals in their quarries there) I have often seen their lorries but have now visited their website at http://www.raymondbrowngroup.co.uk/ to learn more about them Glossy Ibis: The bird which has been at Bickerley Common since Dec 2 is still there but took a day off on Jan 1 to fly south to Christchurch Harbour (where the Avon joins the Stour as it reaches the sea)

Spoonbill: The flock of around 15 which has been in Poole Harbour all year was still there on Jan 1

Bewick's Swan: There was still one family of four in the Adur Valley on Jan 3 but it looks as if the others that have been there are now in the Pulbough area where 14 were seen on Jan 1

Whooper Swan: Just one in the Dorset Frome valley seems to be the only one in southern England this week with no more than 14 at three sites on the continent

Red-breasted Goose: The Farlington Marshes bird remains in the area but unpredictably flies to various sites in Portsmouth

Pintail: A total of 230 was at the Blashford Lakes on Jan 1 and small groups of two or three have been seen in passing at various sites including the Emsworth shore but I have heard no more about the 400 that were seen in the Avon valley on Dec 27. Jan 5 brought a welcome sign that more may soon be seen in the Langstone and Chichester Harbours when 22 turned up at Farlington Marshes.

Scaup: In addition to the small flock of up to 9 that have been in the Abbotsbury area of the Fleet in Dorset one or two have been seen on several days this week in Langstone Harbour though the plumage of one bird has puzzled experienced birders - however on at least two days they were seen on the Lagoon at the Hayling Oysterbeds allowing close examination

Eider: Two have been in Langstone Harbour this week and maybe the same two have been cruising around the east Solent

Goldeneye: Numbers are at last increasing with 11 reported in the Fishbourne Channel near Chichester on Jan 2 and up to 3 have been in Langstone Harbour

Smew: Four were at Rye Harbour on Dec 29 and on Jan 5 a redhead was on the River Test at Romsey

Goosander: A male was at a new site (Warnham pond) at Horsham on Jan 2 and the night roost at Bramshill Plantation on the Hants Berks border was up to 21 birds at dusk on Jan 3 Goshawk: One of the luckiest New Year's Day sightings was a Goshawk seen (by an experienced observer) over Fleet at 08:15 when it became only the third species on his daylist after Robin and Blackbird Common Crane: Another unexpected species on a Sussex birder's NYD list was a single Crane seen on Walland Marsh (just in Kent a little east of Rye) Avocet: Proof the these have not left the Exe estuary came with a count of 400 there on Dec 30. On Dec 31 a flock of 20 were in the Sidlesham Ferry Pool (Pagham Harbour) and on Jan 1 a flock of 27 were at the north end of the Thorney Channel in Chichester Harbour. Langstone Harbour has had a flock of up to 16 in the Broom Channel which runs up the west side of Farlington Marshes before becoming the Portscreek channel

Knot: On Dec 30 there were estimated to be 8000 on the north Kent coast at Seasalter and on Jan 2 a flock of 150 were in the Emsworth Channel visible from Emsworth with 180 at Rye Harbour on Jan 4

Purple Sandpiper: 12 were at Shoreham Fort on Dec 30 and 11 at Newhaven Pier on Dec 31 while 7 were at Southsea Castle on Jan 5

Jack Snipe: One was in the Fishbourne Channel near Chichester on Dec 30 and two were in the Itchen Valley country park on Jan 2

Black-tailed Godwit: Dec 30 found more than 700 in the Exe estaury and Jan 3 brought a count of 3000 from the Avon valley south of Ringwood but none seemed to be left in the Solent Harbours (one seen at the Hayling Oysterbeds on Jan 1 may have been injured and unable to fly off with the rest)

Bar-tailed Godwit: 292 were seen on the Langstone Harbour south west shore on Jan 4 sending me to check the sort of figure to be expected here in January - On 14 Jan 2012 the WeBS count for Pilsey was 500, in early Feb 225+ were in the south of Langstone Harbour and the March WeBS count for Pilsey was 360

Whimbrel: Single wintering birds seen this week were at Redbridge (the top of Southampton Water), in Fishbourne Channel near Chichester, and at Farlington Marshes.

Common Sandpiper: One seen in the Redbridge/Lower Test Marshes area and 4 together by the Itchen at Riverside Park in Southampton

Ring-billed Gull: The Gosport bird remains faithful to its Gosport base

Common Gull: Numbers have gone up everywhere along the south coast both on the shore and inland - e.g. 500 in Portsmouth Harbour on Jan 1 and 400 at Exton in the Meon Valley that day

Kittiwake: We are also seeing more of these with 500 off Portland on Dec 29 when 56 were at Milford near Lymington. On Jan 1 Selsey had 46

Waxwing: The flocks of 100 or more remain in the north of England but a good number of small flocks have been moving through Sussex this week with very few in Hampshire - the only reports I have seen for this county are of 30+ at Farnborough, 10 in the New Forest and 3 at Basingstoke. On Jan 1 the Isle of Wight had just 3 birds enabling Robin Attrill to score what was probably the highest daylist of 119 species Song Thrush: These have been been heard singing daily since Christmas Day and by Jan 5 a walk down the Langbrook Stream from Havant to Budds Farm gave me the impression that one was singing every 200 yards. As well as Robin, Woodpigeon and Collared Dove are now in full song with Blue Tit and Starling heard daily plus occasional bursts from Great and Coal Tit but so far Brian Fellows is the only person to have heard full Dunnock song. In appropriate habitat Cetti's Warbler is now a regular singer Dartford Warbler: So far these have been under no threat from the cold and one has been seen this week in the Point Field at Farlington Marshes (along with two Stonechat)

Chiffchaff: Surprisingly few reports of wintering birds - just three this week - one at the Lymington Marshes, one at Church Norton (Pagham Harbour) and one at St Catherine's Hill near Winchester

Firecrest: Five reports of these this week including one at Brook Meadow in Emsworth and one at the main road end of Mill Lane in Langstone

Twite: The first I have heard of in Hampshire this winter was at Longwood Warren (near the foot of Cheesefoot Head east of Winchester) on Jan 4

INSECTS Butterflies:

Red Admiral: Seen at seven different sites between Dec 23 and Jan 3 (six of them in Hampshire)

Painted Lady: Seen at four sites - one in Hampshire, two in Sussex and one in the Isle of Wight. One seen on Jan 5 was said to be flying straight and fast as if on migration

Small Tortoiseshell: One at Shoreham on Jan 1

Peacock: One at Durlston in Dorset on Jan 1

Other Insects Large White butterfly caterpillars: 33 active on Purple Broccoli plants at Eastbourne on Dec 28 (and moved to the shelter of a Greenhouse)

Beetles: Graeme Lyons noticed numerous small beetles of several species in flight at the Sussex Wildlife Trust Henfield HQ on Jan 5

PLANTS Plants seen in flower this week were:- Creeping Buttercup, Lesser Celandine, Charlock, Hedge Mustard, Shepherd's Purse, Sweet Violet, Herb Robert, Gorse, Common Nettle, Small Nettle, Ivy, Hazel, Grey Alder, Dog's Mercury, Sun Spurge, Cow Parsley, Hogweed, Wild Carrot, Ivy Leaved Toadflax, Common Field Speedwell, Red Deadnettle, White Deadnettle, Water Forget-me-not (single last flower!), Garden Forget-me-not, Japanese Honeysuckle, Oxford Ragwort, Groundsel, Ox-eye Daisy, Daisy, Winter Heliotrope, Scented Mayweed, Scentless Mayweed, Smooth Hawksbeard, Smooth Sowthistle, Butcher's Broom (35 Species) OTHER WILDLIFE Fox: An unexpected bonus during my New Year's Day birdwatch was to have a very healthy looking red Fox sunbathing at the edge of a field in which I was watching a Green Sandpiper around a pool of flood water.

Humpback Whale: After two reports of sightings off the Netherlands on Dec 4 and 20 there was another report on Jan 4

Water Vole: The first to be seen in the River Ems at Brook Meadow this year was reported on Jan 3 but this date was beaten at Pulborough Brooks on Jan 1 and at Woodmill on the River Itchen (northern fringe of Southampton) on Jan 2

Fungi: Velvet Shank toadstools were seen on a tree overhanging the Langbrook Stream where Mill Lane meets the Langstone South Moors on Jan 5. Jew's Ears (aka Jelly Ears) were seen at Durlston on Dec 31

WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR DEC 31 - JAN 6 (WEEK 1 OF 2013)

Sat 5 Jan

Kingcup and Pussy Willow flowering on the South Moors This morning I walked down the Langbrook Stream and across the South Moors to Budds Farm, returning along the shore and coming home via Mill Lane and the Billy Trail. Birding highlights were adding Grey Wagtail and Bullfinch to my yearlist, bringing it to 59 species, and new flowers were Kingcup (aka Marsh Marigold), Goat Willow catkins, Butcher's Broom and fully open Hazel catkins plus the first glimpse of Giant Butterbur (Petasites japonicus) plants pushing up through the ground and fully expanded leaves on the hundreds of Arum Lily plants which have been pushing up for a week or so. Grey Wagtails were seen at two places along the Langbrook Stream, the Giant Butterbur was also seen beside the stream at its regular site just north of the point where you reach the South Moors nature reserve and the Bullfinch was heard calling and then seen flying over me when I had just entered the reserve. The single Kingcup was flowering at the north end of the South Moors 'orchid field' and the Pussy Willow catkins were hanging over the exit gate from the Moors onto Southmoor Lane. Nothing special at Budds Farm other than the absence of Shoveler from the pools and the only notable observations on the way home were of Velvet Shank toadstools on the tree immediately downstream from the footbridge across the Langbrook into Mill Lane, and of three freshly open Lesser Celandines in the ditch beside the Billy Trail where it runs alongside Lower Grove Road in Havant.

First Kingcup flower of the year

First 'Pussy Paw' catkins on Goat Willow Thu 3 Jan (Link to previous day’s entry) Singing Coal Tits and a pair of Goldeneye Yesterday I went to Nore Barn at Emsworth and joined Brian Fellows who added two species to my yearlist by pointing out both Spotted Redshank and Greenshank, though not the Pintail which he had seen earlier further east on the Emsworth shore. Today I cycled down the Billy Trail to the north pier of the old rail bridge which took the trains across to Hayling and on the water off the mouth of the Langbrook Stream I enjoyed prolonged views of a pair of Goldeneye. Further up the Billy Trail near the Lymbourne stream I had stopped to search for the origin on some bird song which I was sure came from Coal Tit and I eventually got a good view of one of the three birds which were singing to confirm that it was a Coal Tit and could be added to my yearlist

Tue 1 Jan A great day out on my byke As promised by the Weather Forecast the sun shone from dawn to dusk though the air felt chill when heading into it but as soon as I turned to have it behind me I could feel the sun's warmth on my face. Even before sunrise Robin, Wood Pigeon and Collared Dove were singing and during the day I heard Song Thrush song in at least four places. These early optimistic signs were not thwarted during the day at the end of which I had seen 53 Bird species and 27 wild plants in flower plus lovely views of a Fox sunning itself in the pony field north of Langstone Mill Pond. Before leaving home I already had House Sparrow, Magpie, Black-headed Gull, Crow and Blue Tit on my list as well the Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove and Robin and as I headed west through Havant towards Bedhampton I added Blackbird, Jackdaw, Starling and Pied Wagtail. Nearing Bedhampton Station I turned off the roads onto the path taking me past the Portsmouth Water Company Springs and Bedhampton Mill Pool on which Mallard, Gadwall and Tufted Duck were seen and Green Woodpecker heard plus the songs of Wren and Song Thrush. My wild flower list started here with Ivy and White Dead Nettle. Following the Hermitage Stream down to the Broadmarsh Slipway I saw Little Egret, Red-breasted Merganser and Little Grebe plus Mute Swan before emerging onto the shore with the tide low. This meant that the Chalk Dock Channel from the Stream mouth to the A27 was crammed with birds among which I saw Brent Geese, Wigeon, Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatcher with Herring and Common Gulls. As I moved west I added Shelduck and Lapwing with Dunlin, Turnstone and Grey Plover to bring my bird count to 35 and along the cycleway the bright yellow flowers of Gorse reflected the sun - also here was a patch of Winter Heliotrope and surprisingly two flowers of Ox-eye Daisy. Heading back along Harts Farm Way I turned south alongside the Brockhampton Stream (hoping for a Kingfisher but the water was too low to hold any fish - the Kingfisher is more likely to be there at or after high tide when the high water has brought in a few fish from the harbour) but nevertheless I saw both Hogweed and Cow Parsley in flower and from the harbour shore saw a couple of Great Blackback Gulls and one Great Crested Grebe. Next stop was Budds Farm Pools which gave me Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Moorhen and Grey Heron while the bushes around Budds Mound had both Dunnock and Great Tit. On the shore below Budds Mound I met a birder who turned out to be the son of a friend of mine in Havant and he had walked down the Billy Trail this morning and seen Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Grey Wagtail, and (on the South Moors shore) a Rock Pipit. I think he had also seen both Meadow Pipit and Goldeneye - all birds which never made it onto my list. In Mill Lane I disturbed a Kestrel which flew off over the Moors and reaching the main road to Hayling I found Hazel catkins starting to open above the bus stop before continuing down the High Street to Langstone Pond where a very sad looking Swan was standing beside the pond looking as if it had just been in a fight with the Swans which 'own' the pond. Nothing else new here but the pony field immediately north of the pond had a bonus in the shape of a Green Sandpiper and while watching it I heard a nearby Great Spotted Woodpecker and saw three Mistle Thrush fly over to perch momentarily in a tree top before flying in - they looked like Mistle Thrush but the clincher to their id was the prominent white patch under the base of the wing. Last spring I several time saw one in this field and feel pretty sure a pair bred here so this may have been a local family party. Also in this pony field many Teal and Moorhen were around the substantial flood (with a juvenile Little Egret plus what I assume to have been its parent) but there was no sign of the expected Pheasant. I did however much enjoy the sight of a rich red Fox sunning itself on the grass. From here I rode along the shore and up Pook Lane, where Dog's Mercury was still in flower, to sit on a bench in Warblington churchyard and eat my sandwiches. As I sat down I heard the only Greenfinch of the day in a tree directly above me and while there saw the only two Chaffinches of the day. After the sandwiches I decided to go north over the A27 footbridge on my way to the Billy Trail, en route for Hayling, and at the north foot of the bridge found another unexpected flower - the version of Forget-me-not cultivated from the Wood species, widely grown in gardens and even more widely escaping from them to be mistaken by some for the smaller Field Forget-me-not. Sadly no Grey Wagtail in the Lymbourne Stream but I did find a flower on Japanese Honeysuckle and hear a Goldfinch before crossing Langstone Bridge with the tide now nearly high. Just before reaching the Oysterbeds lagoon I added Sweet Violet to the flower list but despite a scan of the many waders in and flying around the high tide roost I added nothing to my list so I headed for Northney across the open north Hayling fields. Here the field edges gave me Red Dead Nettle, Sun Spurge, Lesser Swinecress, Groundsel, Small Nettle, Scented Mayweed and Charlock all in flower while Northney Church added Strawberry Tree flowers and the fields nearest the rookery had plenty of Rooks. Feeling tired by now I decided to miss out North Common and head home but before getting there I had seen Wild Carrot, Hedge Mustard, and Smooth Hawksbeard in flower and this encouraged me to do one last lap around my home area, adding Grey Alder catkins (in Prince George Street carpark), Sweet Alison, Oxford Ragwort and the Lesser Celandines outside the Havant cemetery (now five flowers open)